OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17918, 24 October 1932, Page 8

OBITUARY

REV. M. T. WAAKA LINK WITH MAORI TROUBLES The death occurred at Muriwai this morning of the Rev. Mateuga Tamaroki Waaka, a veteran soldier and a priest in the Church of England. He had reached the good old age of 98 years, and his passing severs a connection with old history of this part of the district. Deceased was a most loyal subject of Queen Victoria, and a conspicuous soldier during the Maori rebellion. He was never fond ol war, and he particularly disliked the killing of his own kith and kin, but he believed in upholding the honor of his people and the making of peace and happy relations between the two peoples. He was the possessor of two war medals, one for service and the other for meritorious conduct on the field of battle. The late Mr. Waaka was a. chief in his own tribe, the Ngai Tamanuhiri, and was popularly regarded as one of the paramount chiefs of the Turanganui peoples, the Rongowhakaata. Both the pakelia and Maori found in him a most, peaceful and unassuming personality. He was an ardent student of the Bible, being one of the members of the old school under the tuition of the late Bishop Leonard Williams. After peace was declared, lie accepted Holy orders, and was a priest in the church until his resignation through ago and failing health in 1910. He leaves a daughter, Mrs. Maora Hineitulua Hingston, and to her the deepest sympathy of his tribe and many friends will be tendered. The interment is to be at the Maraetaha cemetery to-morrow, the funeral leaving the Muriwai pa at 3 p.m. .