LATE REV. T. G. HAMMOND

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 2

LATE REV. T. G. HAMMOND

INCIDENT OF THE EARIA DAYS. “The Adventures of Kimble Bent,” a true narrative of adventure written by Mr. James Cowan, tells the story of a white soldk r who deserted to the Maoris in the Hawera district in the year 1865. For many a long year Kimble Bent was in the custody and associated with the great fighting chief Titokowaru. At the conclusion of the above-mentioned book Mr. Cowan gives the following particulars .respecting Titokowaru. wliica v ere given him by the late Rev. Hammond:— “It was Titokowaru’s right eye had been destroyed by a bullet in some engagement. He was about five feet nine in height and somewhat spare and muscular, with fine bone, an alert, active man, but by no means good-look-ing. His skin was rather darker than the general run of Maoris, and his nose low in the bridge, with wide nostrils. His face rarely lit up pleasantly, and he was of reserved manner. His knowledge of tikanga Maori (ancient Maori customs) was considerable, and during the War he conducted the usual ceremonies to make the war aarties successful! “The late Rev. Stannard, of Wanganui, told me that Titakawaru’s name given him in baptism was Hohepa (Jo-, seph), and I have lieard from Tairuakena and others that Tito was one of the young men who accompanied the Rev. Skevington on his last visit to Auckland. (This was a long time before the Maori War.) They journeyed overland from Te Waimate (near Manaia) to Auckland, Mr. Skevington going to attend the Auckland Synod. While in the old High Street Church, Auckland, he died suddenly. Titokowaru and the other young men returned to bear the news to the people, as he (Titokowaru) put it, ‘Ka hoki mat matou tangi, haere ki tena kainga, ti tena kainga.” (They were weeping and grieving on arrival at their various homes.) Mr. Woon succeeded Mr. Skevington at Tleretoa. Te Waimate. “I had one interview with Titokowaru, which I shall never forget. I think it was in 1876, and before I knew Maori. Mr. William Williams, late of Manaia, Taranaki, was going to visit Titokowaru, at Omuturangi (near Otakeho). on the Waimate Plains, and. as I was on my way to New Plymouth, he persuaded me to delay a day and go with him —a most unwise thing, as the Maoris had said they would shoot anyone who crossed the Waingongora. We went from Hawera to Normanby. and then picked up old Katene Tn Whakaruru, who was just then acting as a Maori policeman. We rode along over these vast plains, with the cocksfoot brushing against our knees as we sat in our saddles. We came to a house on the edge of the bush, and found only one woman, whose face was deeply scarred: she had lately lost her child, and had been cutting herself in grief. This woman told us that Titokowaru and. the men were in the bush planting potatoes, and pointed out a narrow path, along which we galloped for a good dietanee, perhaps a mile. “Suddenly we came upon about 80 Maoris, all men, and Titokowaru with them. They gathered round us as we dismounted, and Titokowaru came and took my right arm, and a big burly fellow my left. They sat me between them, holding me fast, while the smoke from th© fire close by almost smothered me. An old bald-headed Maori began to« speak in an excited manner, and when he had done, a very rascally-looking young fellow made a speech, coming up to me and smacking his thigh, and letting out an angry grunt at the end of every period. When he finished, Katene spoke, and did his best to turn away their anger; reminded them of the good the missionaries did in getting them released from bondage in the Waikato “Then Williams spoke, and at the close and Ngapuhi country. of his speech a fine man. in a piupiu (flax waist-mat) orated, and then came forward to hongi (nib noses) with me. After which there was a little fraternisation. and we'eame away. Even old Katene. looked very white while the row was on, but I did not know enough to be scared. It was a narrow escape; I, of course, know now what I did not know then. I thought at the time Titokowaru was protecting me, but I think now he was making sure that I did not get away.” Titokowaru died at his villege (Kakata, on the Normanby Road, between Manaia and Okaiawa), on the Waimate Plains, near the scene of his olden battles against the whites, towards the end of 1889. To the end he was a sturdy enemy of the Europeans, and though he did not actually fight against them after 1869, he w/is the leader in many obstructive movements against white settlement, surveying, and road-making.