OBITUARY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 83, 15 April 1913, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MAORI, OkIEF ARATAWA. *' .Veterans, of the Hau Hau wars of i, the sixties, Te Eobti and Titokowaru were-a L-the height of their power-and when the names df Eemp and Von Tempsky were Something to conjlire with, will Lear with great regret of the death of another of the grand old Maoris whose ’loyalty to. the Rritishi during the many uprisings was probably the biggest factor in' the failure of the rebel natives to drive the intruding pakeha from their shores. There passed away at NgutUwera on Friday morning ; last (says ; the Patea -Press) a Well -known and widely respected friendly chief, in the person- of Aratawa. The deceased, who was 77. years of age, was a grandson of Porua Nuiakima, whose name wfls a byword with the earliest settlers, and whose former notoriety has | often formed the subject of much dis- r mission among the remaining pioneers. Aratawa was chief of the Ngatiporua—a tribe that is still largely represented at Waifcotara. He saw milch service with the gallant Von Tempsky, and earned some distinction as one of Kemp’s leading men. He toOk part in the unfortunate expedition against Titokowaru in his stronghold at Te-Ngutu-o-te-Manu. Under Colonel Whitmore, he was prominent in the unsuccessful attack on Moturoa, where the British received one of the most severe reverses of the war. As a native “soldier of fortune” he was widely known. He was with the Wanganui natives in the Taupo campaign, which ended so disastrously for Te Kooti and his fanatical followers and wna on© of the grand old Rangitiras, who have largely helped to make interesting the history of this young country. He leaves a wide circle of friends and relations i to mourn his loss.