CHIEFTAINESS PASSES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7101, 31 August 1949, Page 7

CHIEFTAINESS PASSES

MRS PETER BARTON’S DEATH family at ngahape Another “ giant totara of the great forest of Nehenehenui has fallen ” in the passing of Parahina Tawhana, widow of the late Mir Peter Barton, of Te Kuiti and formerly of Ngahape, whose death has been mourned by many of the representatives of the tribes of Hawke’s Bay, Taupo, Rotorua, Waikato, Wanganui, Manawatu, and Wellington at the four days’ tangi held at deceased’s home, Tokanga-nui-anoho, Te Kuiti. Deceased was a daughter of Tawhana/ one of the paramount chiefs of the King Country, residing at Te Kuiti. A woman of high courage and upright character, she, having once given her word, never deviated from that decision. Her word went far in the councils of her people. Her tangi was attended' by King Koroki with seventy of his Waikato people and Princess Te Puea. The late Mrs Barton was one of the few remaining Maoris who knew the early days before the advent of /'the pakeha when Te Kuiti and district grew wheat interspersed with droop-ing-branched trees laden with redcheeked, luscious peaches. With her husband, the Bartons cultivated and successfully farmed a thousand acres at Ngahape, where three sons carry on the good work. Another son, with his family of popular sporting girls, resides in Te Kuiti to perpetuate the memory of one who will be sadly missed,in all gatherings of the M'aori people. Deceased’s husband, the late Mr Peter Barton, died in 1935. He was a Maori chief well known throughout the North Island, and was connected with the Maori king family and all the leading families of the Tainui people. He took an active part in all matters relating to the Maori race, and farmed successfully at Ngahape until his retirement in 1920.