OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12600, 2 March 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

Wircmu Nahira Tehoita, a Maori chief at Kaiapoi, died recently at the ago of 91 years. Wi Nahira could recollect the famous raid of To Rauparaha in 1827, when, at the Lead of the North Island Natives, Rohulla, as To Rauparaha was called, raided the South Island, and massacred'the Maoris of the Ngaitahu and Ngamimamoe who came within reach. It was at this period that Kaiapohia—the old pa—was laid siege to aud won by tlio invaders. Wi Nahira and his brother, Tare Wi Tchoika, were about 15 and 14- years of age respectively, and escaped the sicgo of Kaiapoi, making their way into Otago, and.living upon fern roots and eels caught in the rivers and creeks. Nahira was one of the firet to welcome the Rev. J. W. Stack, and in the early days of the sixties assisted to correct the tranelation of Mr J. Edward FitzGerald's letters to the Maoris in reference to Native affairs and the placing of four of fee Maoris in Parliament. Nahira held advanced views, and was greatly respected. Mr J. S. -Montgomery, for some time with Mr Bland Holt's and other dramatio companies, diod in the Whito Cliffs (New South Wales) Hospital on February 13 from typhoid fever. His last appearanco in Melbourne was with Wilson Barrett's company at the Princess Thoatro. The deceased was a son of the lato Mr A. Montgomery, rector of the Normal School, Dunedin. He was an ex-pupil of the Boys' High School, and was at one time a school teacher in the Otago district. His firet connection with the stage was in Duncdiu as a member of the Otago University Dramatic Club. A death under particularly sad aud distressing circumstanccs occurred in Gore -on February 21 (according to tho Southern Standard). Mrs G. Shave, wife of a local resident, took suddenly ill on Friday with a severe attack of influenza. Violent fits of vomiting followed, and, in spite of all possible medical care, the lady gradually grew worse. Peritonitis supervened, and death resulted on Saturday night from failure of the heart's action. The deceased lady, who. was only 33 years of age, leaves a husband (himself cm a bed of sickness) and three little children, the eldest about five years .of age, to mourn her departure. After a brief illness Mr George Dowse, a well-known and much-respected resident of Dunedin, died at his homo in tho NorthEast Valley on February 22, at the age of 71 years. Mr Dowse was an Edinburgh man, and in his youth served hi 3 time as a saddler in Fulton's famous establishment there. He spent some years in Victoria before coming to Dunedin in the early sixties. Shortly after his arrival here he opened a saddler's shop in Rattray street, where he carried on an extensivo business until 1886, when he disposed of it to Mr Peter Miller.- In his younger days Mr Dowse was an athlete pf some repute, and always took a deep interest in sports of all kinds. For many years he acted as one of a committee of three who handicapped for the Dunedin Jockey Club's races, aud about 16 years ago he was entrusted with tho duty of sole handicapper—a position ho occupied with great credit up to the time of his death, fie was also handicapper for nearly every other racing club in the provincial district of Otago. Mr Dowse was a warm-hearted, generous man, and at all times was ready to assist those in need of help. He leaves a wife to mourn her loss: ho had no family. News was received' in Christdiurch on February 22 of the death at Rotorua of the wife of Professor Macmillan Brown, the cause being diphtheria. Tho lady was a brilliant scholar, and was, as Miss Helen Cbnaon, head mistress of the Girls' High School Christchurch, and was well known in academic circles. She had been ailing for soma time, and had gone for a holiday to Rotorua, but news had been'received by her friends in Christchuxcli to the effect that sho was recovering, and her death, therefore, came as a shock to tho9e who knew her. A Palmerston North telegram says:—CabU advice received on February 22 reports the death at.Sydney on February 21 of Mr Cohen, for many years a well-known resident of Christchurch, and father of Mr 11. Cohen, of Palmerston North. Deceased was 76 years of age, and bad been a' resident in Australia for tho past. two years. A Wellington telegram, says that news' has been'received there of the death in. Sydney of Mr Joseph Evison, the well-known journalist, at one time editor of Christchurch Truth. Ex-Sergeant-major Ramsay, formerly a well-known member of the police force, from which he recently rotired on a pension, died at Wellington on February 9. Ho liadbeeu : -4Q-years in-tho gofe