IHAIA TAIHEWA,

Timaru Herald, Volume II, Issue 65, 12 August 1865, Page 5

IHAIA TAIHEWA,

THE LATE MAORI CHIEF OF KAIAPOI.

Ihaia Taihewa was born at Arowhenua about 1810. His father, though descended from the highest families m the Island, did not occupy the foremost position m his tribe, being' a younger son. When still a boy, the section of the Ngaituahuriri tribe to which Ihaia belonged, went to war with the Kaiapoi section to avenge the death of one of their number who had been assassinated by Tamaiharanni. They succeeded, by a siufden attack, m destroying three pa's on the Peninsula occupied by relatives and friends of the Kaiapoi Natives, and on their return, fearing that the Kaiapoi people would retaliate, they abandoned their villages, crossed the Waitaki, and settled at Waikouaiti.

After many years absence several families resolved to go back to the North, but they were met on the banks of the Hakaia by o. hostile band, and few escaped destruction. When the news of their fate reached Otago.a war party started to avenge their death. Taihewa bore arms on this occasion for the first time. The expedition was successful, and returned with little loss to the South, where thoy remained m peaceful occupation of their homes, the Kaiapoi people bein^ too much taken up with their own defence against Kauparuhu's fierce attacks, to continue the war with their southern neighbors. Taihewa remained at. Arowhenua till after the fall of Kaiapoi. but when the Southern tribes resolved to make common

cause with the Kaiapoi remnant against Raupnruhti, he joined the expedition sent to prevent the invaders landing m the Straits. He was present at the engagement at To Paruparu, m which Raupavuhu was defeated with gTeat loss. Returning to Waikouaiti, Taihewa joined Mr. Weller's whaling station, and worked there for many years.

When peace was resolved upon with Rnupnruhu, Taihewa was chosen as one of the negotiators : he proceeded to the North m company with Taiaroa and other influential chiefs. Their mission was successful, owing* to the Utaki tribes having embraced Christianity just before their arrival.

On his way back from the North m 1840, Taihewa slept at Port Levy, where he married Hera Mohuru, and took up his permanent abode. From this time forward he was looked up to by the people m these parts as a leader. He soon became noted throughout the island for his hospitality, and persons flocked to his side from all parts.

About five years before the settlement of Canterbury, Taihewa and his wife embraced Christianity, and were baptized by the Rev. Mr. Creed.

In 1850 Ihaia removed to Kaiapoi, where he set his people a good example by putting- up a weatherboard house and furnishing 1 it; urging them at the same time to adopt civilised habirs. He was remarkably cleanly m his person and dress, and his gentlemanly manners and bearing- might have put to shame many who had enjojed greater advantages. On Mr. Stack's arrival, m 1859. no one received him so heartily as Ihaia, who continued to the last to assist him m every | way m his power. Ihaia's ready appreciation of the benefits certain to arise from the individualisation of property, led him to support Mr. Walter Buller's scheme, m opposition to the older men, who looked upon the new doctrine with distrust, and his good common-sense speeches m support of his views contributed greatly to the success of the movement. Indeed, Ihaia was always foremost m everything that was good. He seemed to possess an instinctive appreciation of what was beneficial for his people. A few weeks ago Ihaia was requested by a Maori to accompany some other assessors to Timaru, to decide a case m dispute between himself and another Maori. Greatly against the wishes of his wife and friends, Ihaia went. The longride appears to have overtasked his strength for of late years he has been a great invalid, suffering 1 continually from asthma). The day the Court met at Timaru was wet and cold, and as the case was not concluded till dark, he did not get back to Arowhenua till near midnight, and was so exhausted when taken out of the dog-cart, that he fainted. He was only ill three days, and died on Tuesday, July 18. THE LAST WORD OF IHAIA. ! [Translation.] July 18, m the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1865. Friends— Listen, listen all the Runangas of this greenstone island. lam about to die ; after me be kind to the two races — This is my farewell to you my people. Farewell— Be kind to the white man — be kind to one another, whether rich or poor. Though the white j man may outnumber you, be kind and help them and each other. Peace be to the people— Live at peace with the white man. I am dying — Good-bye, my people, good-bye. These are my last words to you, From your loving friend, Ihaia Taihewa, Native Assessor for Kaiapoi. LAMENT OF IHAIA's WIFE. [Translation.] Kaiapoi, July 8, 1865. These were my loving words about Ihaiah : — When he told me his intention of going to Timaru, I said, " Ihaia, do not go, stay with me." Ihaia said " No, I must go/ I replied, "If you are determined I cannot prevent you ; but I know you will never come back to me." This is my lament for Ihaia — Oh, my heart is torn by thoughts within ; Why did this foolish desire to wander Over hill and dale to Whare wera seize him; Oh that my longings, like a net, <- Might draw my loved one back to me.

His Arowhenua friends complied with his request that his body might be taken to Kninpoi for interment. They not only sent the body to Kaiapoi, but thirty of them accompanied the corpse as a guard of honor, and on their arrival at Kaiapoi pa were saluted by a volley of guns, and displayed the usual demonstrations of | grief. During 1 the last few days the I Maoris from the different pas on the Peninsula came to see the body of their late chief, which was properly laid out m the English style m a handsome coffin, shroud, t£c, and placed outside his late residence during the day, but placed m a hut made of bark at night. His widow has had a neat coffin-plate painted and fixed to the lid, on which her late husband's name, age, &c, was tastefully painted. The lamentations of the Maoris over the corpse were at times harmonious and beautiful, but at orher times broke off into horrid yells. The widow, during the eeretnony, sat at the head of the coffin, and occasionally touched the bod} r and arranged the shroud. She was dressed m black silk, and wore a profusion of gold ornaments. The mourners worked themselves up to such a pitch that they became quite fatigued, and they leant on sticks as props, and when thoroughly exhausted they fell to the ground. After a time thdjv commenced again, and then took some food. The first day they had 480 quartern loaves, seven sheep, a bullock, quantities of eels, two tons of potatoes, woodhens, poultry, »fee., and had all the apparatus for cooking upon the spot. About £120 has been subscribed as a present to Sarah, Ihaia's widow, among the Maoris. The funeral took place on Friday, August 4 ; nearly 200 Maoris were assembled, many of the men wearing crape hat-bands, and the women dressed m black, and having pieces of the taua stuck m their hats. The coffin was covered with black cloth, and trimmed with gilt lace, and lay m one of the rooms of the house. All seemed to bo sorrowing" for their chief, and none more so than his widow. As the time for the removal of the corpse drew near, about 200 Europeans were gathered together to witness the ceremony. The coffin was removed into a spring-cart, and covered with a decent pall. A party of eight Maoris then placed themselves as an advance guard. The procession then started, the widow and family of the deceased following the coffin. After them came the women of the pa, walking two nbreast, and then followed the men m the same order. After proceeding 1 some distance the corUge stopped, and the corpse was carried for about 200 yards on the shoulders of four men. They were met at the church by the Rev. J. W. Stack, who performed the burial service, and the body was carried into the church ; and after the usual service, which was responded to m the most creditable manner by the Maoris m their own language, most of whom seemed to possess their own prayer-books, the coffin was carried to the vault, which was made as an ordinary grave, but bricked, and m the exact shape of the coffin. The burial service having been read, the coffin was lowered, and the whole of the Maoris threw their taua into the vault, and a party fired two vollies over the grave. The lid of wood which was made for the vault was then placed m its required position, and all retired to the house of the deceased, which could be recognised by flags hung upon it half-mast high. The following is the funeral oration : — [Translation.] July, 31, 18C5. This is a word by the representatives of all the villages m the province. Listen all the Maori and Pakeha, people of the island, from one end to the other. Ihaia Taihewa, our dear friend, one of the principal Maori chiefs, is dead. This is our farewell to Ihaia — Go, son — go, son — go, voice that always welcomed the passer by, go, our benefactor — go, son, go, you are lost from amongst us —benefactor of the orphan, and of the traveller, whether Maoi*i or Pakeha. Go, great star of the morning, go. When the first news of the Taranaki war reached us we were all alarmed, but Ihaia said peace be to the people. This is all we have to say ahont Ihaia from all the Runangas of Canterbury, including Waimate Mate, Arowhenua, Taunutu, Waireo, Akaroa, Port Levy, Kaiapoi. Pita Te Horx.