DEATH OF THE CHIEF RIWAI

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3352, 27 June 1879, Page 3

DEATH OF THE CHIEF RIWAI

The Parawai chief Biwai, of the Ngatimaru, expired at his residence early yesterday morning, at the ripo old age ot eighty years. Hiwai will be remembered as the groat obstructionist to the opening up of the country by means;of roads, although his scruples were ultimately overcome by the younger people on that point, after which he gracefully retired from any antagonism, and refused to receive any money compensation for the loss of his land, At first, it will bo within the rocollection of our readers, Bivrai was asked to give his consent to the cutting down of the hill at Parawai, leading to the Kauwaeranga VaKey, and known as Hiwai's hill; but when confronted with the Provincial authorities and His Honor the Superintendent, he asked no less a sum than 600 millions as compensation for the removal of one of the landmarks of his ancestors, and the cutting up of their estate. It was not until some few years later that Biwai was persuaded to withdraw his claim for hundreds of millions, and allow the work to be performed by somo of the men of the local tribeu, under the superintendence of his son, Nikorima Poutotara. Later on he was asked to pormifc the new County road to pass through his land, and resolutely dolined for a long time, until his authority was sot aside by the young men of his tribe, and he retired from opposition, declining to be compensated. Biwai took part in the great battle fought at Totara between the Ngatimaru and the Ngapuhis from the Bay of Islands in the year 1821, when the Jfptjmarji.claimed such a signal victory, and killed and ate their adversaries in suoh numbers on the tapued ground at Totara Point, The moro imnr diate cause of death was the rupture of a blood vessel, a few months ago, He was returning from a langi at Coromande.', with some of his people, when they were not using the paddles to his ontire satisfaction, and he wont to show them how they ought to be used. He displayed so much energy in the use of the implement that he strained himself, and burst a bloodvessel internally. He lay for weeks afterwards in a precarious condition, and of course refused medical skill. He was at this time visited by the Hon. the Nativo Minister when ho came down, and upon his recovery ho was to receivo a pension of £20 per annumn from the Government, but he had only received one quarter's allowance up to the time of his death.

A tangi will be held over the remains, at which natives from Ohinomuri, Ooromandel, Whakatiwai, Manaia, Piako, and other places will attend, and the remains will afterwards bo interred at the Hauraki native cemetery, near to his own houso, and on his own lands. He leaves an only son, Nikorima Poulotara, who is an intelligent young man and heir to his large estate.