A REMARKABLE CAREER.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1916, Page 3

A REMARKABLE CAREER.

DEATH OF KIMBLE BENT. PAKEHA-MAORI WHO WAS OUTLAWED. A few days ago there died in the AVairau hospital, Marlborough, a bedridden old man who iiad survived some of the most extraordinary penis and adventures that have ever'fallen to the share of a dweller in a wild land and amongst a savage people, states the Cliristcliurcli Star. This was Kimble Bent, the pakeha-Maori, who was known as Tu-nui-a-moa by his native friends; lie had reached the age of seventy-nine years. For nearly fifty years his life had been spent almost wholly among the Maoris, and for about twenty years of that period he did not dare to venture into white settlements, for a price was on his head as a deserter and a rebel.

Kimble Bent was born in TCastport State of Maine, U.S.A., in 1837, the son of a shipbuilder of tliat little town and a young half-breed woman of the Mnsqua Indian tribe. His father's name was Waterman Bent. At seventeen he ran away to sea, and spent three years on a United States training frigate, in which he became an expert Slimier. Later he found his way to England, where lie enlisted in 1850 in the 57th Regiment, the old "Die Hards." The regiment was sent to Ireland, and at Cork Bent deserted, weary of the interminable drill. The American barque in which he stowed away sprang a leak and foundered, and all hands were rescued just in time by a brig belonging to Boston, which landed them at Olasgow. Here, the deserter was arrested, punished by court-martial and sent to rejoin his regiment. With ihe 57th lie went to Bombay, and spent two years in India. In ISfIU the regiment was ordered to Xew Zealand to take the field against the Maoris, mid Bent had experience of barrack life in Auckland and New Plymouth. His impatience of the strict discipline culminated in an offence which brought him to a court-martial in the camp at Manawapou, in South Taranaki, in the early part of 1804. He disobeyed a corporal's orders, and received a flogging of twenty-five lashes at the triangle, followed by a period of imprisonment. This severe punishment sent him to the Maoris as soon as he found an opportunity of deserting. He stole away from the camp in the winter of 18(15, and made his way to the nearest Hanhau settlement, ; the palisaded pa Ohangai, on the rebel side of the Tangahoe river.

LIFE IX THE BUSH. h'l'om that day onward Bent led the life of the Maoris. Tlio Xgati-Ruanui tribe to which lie deserted received him with savage ceremonies, and lie became a protege of a chief named Tito te Hanataua. Tim Hauhau prophet Te Ua, the founder of the Pai-marire fanatic religion, also befriended him and bade the tribe give hospitality to any soldier who deserted to them from the p.ikeha forces. At Taiporohcinii, Ketconetea, Otapawa l , and other stoek 4 aded villages of the Ngaii-Ruanni Bent lived with bis "rangatira,'' taking Ms share in all the work nf the kaingas; lie had imagined for himself a life of leisure among the natives, but he iioon found that lie was little better than a slave. Among a. less intelligent and forceful people than the Maoris, perhaps, he would have realised his ambition of an easy life and a position of authority; as it was he found his level, which \vas that of a servant; he was compelled to labor in the. plantations and in the building of fortifications, and all the other heavy labor of the tribal life. His special skill was made use of in the repairing of the Maoris' guns and pistols; for years he was the NgntiKuanui's chief armorer and carlridjemakcr. His European clothes soon wore out, and his clothing for years was either some tattered shirt or blanket, with a Maori flax mat about his waist; lie went barefooted and bareheaded like the Maoris, ami became as hardened to (he rough bush life as they. He was given a Maori woman as wife, and when she died he was provided with a new "wahine," iiis chief's daughter. His first Maori name was "Ringiringi," which tlie celebrated lighting chief, Titokowaru, his master and protector for 'ninny years, afterwards changed to "Tu-nui-a-moa," an ancestral name, by which Bent was universally known among the natives until bis death.

TITOKOWARU'S WHITE MAN. It was when living in To Xgutu-o-tc-Manu stockade, on the Waimate Plains, that Titokowarn adopted Bent. Tim pakeha-Maori had boon in considerable danger from some of the mal-contents of the pa; they wished to see him killed, as they believed that he was waiting an opportunity to escape to the Government forces and the men of his own race. The. war chief, in order to protect his protege, announced to the tribe assembled in the great meeting-house, "AYharc-kura," that Bent was now his "mokopuna," and that his name henceforward would be Tu-nni-a-moa, which had been that of his (Titoko's) great-grandfather. Long after the war, the worn old war chief lay dying in his little kainga, near Manaia. It was in the year ISBB. AH hi? tribe had assembled to receive, his parting exhortations and see him die. Kimble Bent was at this time living with the Maoris at Taiporohenin. some fifteen miles away. As the old chief lay there, near his end, he was i-card to ask, "Where is my grandson, Tu-mti a-moa?" The Maoris at once sent for the white man. To Kahu-pu-koro, one of Titokowaru's relatives and warriors, set out for Taiporohenui, and told Bent that the dying chief had asked for him. "If you wish to see him alive," said Te Kahu-pu-koro, "come back with me now."

Bent at once went- with the. Maori ami rode into Titoko's camp. The old warrior lay there, with fast glazing eyes. He looked up as Bent approached and said, "E Tu, te.na koe!" The white man pressed his nose fo his rangatira's, and uttered his Maori greeting and farewell. The grim old war-chief held his white mokopuna's hand, feebly in his own. In a few moments he spoke again: "Remain you here," he said. "I am going away. Do not desert the tribe. Remain with our people."

That was Titokowaru's farewell. A few minutes later ho died, and the tangi's wail and the firing of guns and a Maori pandemonium indescribable announced the passing of the last great warrior of the Plains. For some years after his old chief's death Bent lived in Taranaki with hi,' Maori friends. About eighteen years ago he took up his quarter* at Wairau native village in Marlborough witli the little Ngati-Rarua tribe and earned his keep by carpentering and working in the cultivations. He was induced to tell the story of his unrestful life, and this was narrated in a book entitled "The Adventures of Kimble Bent,"

written by James Cowan and published by Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs five years ago. The old pakeha-Maori was often accused of having fought against his fel-low-whites iu the war. However, he always strenuously declared that he had never used a weapon against the troops, and Maoris who had been bis comrades, questioned on the subject, supported his denial.