TUTURAU CELEBRATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23377, 8 December 1937, Page 12

TUTURAU CELEBRATIONS

To The Editor

Sir, —Before I reply to a letter that appeared in The Southland Times on November 30 on this subject, permit me to add a sentence to my previous letter, dated November 24, which was inadvertently omitted. When the battle was won and peace was declared the two tribes settled down and intermarried and lived peacefully together up to the present day. Your correspondent,' E. Walscott, agrees that this is so and states that to ratify peace Kohuwai, a Ngatimamoe chieftainess, was given to Honekai, who was the son of the leader of the conquering tribe. He was also an uncle of that noted chief Pokene Your correspondent goes on to give the names of several men who married other Ngatimamoe women—Pokokiwi, for instance. One of the number, your correspondent states, is the parent of Karetai. In reality the names supplied are all those of members of the defeated tribe with the exception of one person. This fact has been established by your correspondent’s own admissions. Your correspondent now claims to have retained their mana (right) to the land. I cannot allow this critic to get away with that line of reasoning.

Your correspondent goes on to say that this noted chief, Pokene, belongs to Canterbury and was taken a prisoner by Te Rauparaha in his Kaiapoi raids. It is quite true that Pokene had large interests in Canterbury, extending to Kaikoura, where his relations are living at the present time. In addition to this and under the right of conquest his interests now extend to Murihiku, including Stewart Island. I am unable to trace any record showing that Pokene was taken a prisoner. I submit that would not lower his prestige in any way. However, from your correspondent’s remarks he stood his ground and did not desert his comrades. It is stated that certain people fled in fear of To Rauparaha and left Pokene to defend their interests. The fugitives eventually landed at Otago. In

later years when Te Puaho was raiding the South Island the self-same people fled a second time and eventually sought refuge at Ruapuke under the wing of Topi Patuki, who is a nephew of the chief Pokene. Events leading up to the Tuturau raids are recorded in my letter published on November 24. I fail to find any record of Karetai having taken any part in this historical event.

This chief, Pokene, was married the second time to Hinetaumai, who was the daughter of Ihupupu, a Ngitahu chief of high rank. Pokene’s name also appears on the deed as one of the signatories of the Otago purchase. From chief Pokene’s second marriage he had one daughter, whose name was Titapu, who married West. The issue was Harry West, hence the West family. This noted chief lived with his grandson at Otago Heads up to the time of his death. Being a chief of superior rank he had a staff of attendants also of note who attended to his wants night and day, as was the custom in those days.

Your correspondent’s reference to Pokene’s land is entirely wrong. Your correspondent must be aware of the fact that Pokene’s successors are beneficiaries in the Otago block, together with the members of her ancestors who are all included in the Tautuku and Taieri blocks which comprise several hundred acres.

I submit the contents of this letter are a full and complete answer to the unwarranted allegations credited to your correspondent. I wish to state that it has been my desire at all times to avoid using personalities. If I have trespassed unintentionally on the feelings or good taste of any people, irrespective of whether they are my friends or foes, it makes no difference to me. I beg to tend my sincere apology. I do not intend to continue the correspondence further.—Yours, etc,, GEORGE H. SKERRETT, J.P. Awarua Plains, December 6, 1937.