OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18283, 29 December 1933, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR. WI KARATI MAORI PIONEER VETERAN Tho death occurred at the Cook Hospital yesterday, (after a fortnight's treatment there for a longstanding trouble, of Mr. Wi Karati, of Tokomaru Bay, a veteran of the first Maori Contingent which served in the Great War with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Mr. Karati had been in illhealth for some time, and apparently Ins death was caused by a complaint contracted during, his experience as a miner.

Born on the East Coast, and brought up in that district, the late Mr. Karati Was in the prime of manhood when lie was accepted for service with tlie Maori Battalion, and in the course of his ser-

vice lie took part m several of the major

engagements of the N.Z.E.F. He spent several months of training on the desert sands of Egypt, and later went to Gallipoli, where he was one of the battalion

in tho lino when the Alaoris made their | celebrated charge, to which reference is made in the. majority of war histories,

1 On the evacuation of tho Peninsula by the British troops, lie served for a further period in Egypt, and then went to France, where at different periods he was attached to the New Zealand and Australian tunneling corps, doing good , work with both, lie wa.l in iit tlie digging of Turk Lane, tho celebrated work ' of the Maori Pioneer Battalion on the Somme, in 1916, and at Flers, in September, 1916, lie suffered a gunshot wound in the jaw and neck. After his recovery from this injury, be again served in the line in France, transferring for a time to the ]stli North Auckland Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion. At Yprcs, iu 1917, lie again was wounfled, though not seriously. On bis return to New Zealand, and bis discharge into civilian life, Air. Karati found employment in the Thames district for a while, making use of bis mining experience with the tunnelling companies overseas. He became a victim to a chest trouble, however, and in later years suffered from this complaint to an increasing degree, lie entered hospital at Gisborne a fortnight ago for treatment, and though on his entry bis condition did not cause any anxiety, he gradually sank, and succumbed yesterday.

Tlie deceased was a widower, without children. He has a stepsister resident in Gisborne, Mrs. N. Kerokere, and other relatives live in the Tokomaru Bay area. The burial will take place to-mor-row, the cortege leaving Cochrane’s mortuary at 2 p.m. All former members of the Pioneer Battalion, and also veterans of the 15th North Auckland Rcgi-. ment, are specially invited by the UisDorne R.S.A. to attend the burial as a tribute to a former, comrade.

Hastings people were saddened during the Christmas season by news of the death of Mrs. Eliza Maud Elibett, wife of Air. George Ebbett, which occurred on Sunday, after a lengthy illness. Born iu Napier in 1878, the late Mrs. Ebbett was a daughter of the late Mr. .1. VV. Veal, who was a partner in the firm of Neal and Close and was at' one titne one of the best-known of NapieFs citizens. She had resided in Hastings for 33 years. The late Airs. Ebbett rendered a wondeii'nl service iff Hastings, taking a very keen interest in public affairs, particularly during tlie time she held the position' of Mayoress. She was also a very keen member of tho Hastings Blanket Society and of the congregation of St. Matthew’s Church.