DEATH OF A MAORI DIGGER.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2146, 19 November 1875, Page 3

DEATH OF A MAORI DIGGER.

Moses Wallace, a Maori, from the Waikato, in the North Island, who has been mining in this district since the first rush, died at Frankton Hospital last week of consumption ; and as soon as the intelligence" reached the Arrow, a deputation from the Golden Arrow Lodge, 1.0. G.T., went over and brought the remains here for interment. The funeral took place on Friday-last at 4 p.m. The Bey. Joshua Jones read the funeral seryice, as the deceased was believed to have belonged to the Church of England. About forty members of the Lodge from various parts of the district attended, as well as a number of townspeople and other residents, while the stores and hotels closed their doors .during the afternoon. ..The Templars walked in regalia, with mourning emblems, and after the funeral service the ceremonies of the order were performed at the grave. ,To those who wish to see the brotherhood of | thehuman race practically acknowledged, the spectacle was gratifying. JH ere wfcs a band of settlers linked hand in hand in a I circle round the grave of a tatooed native— one of the children of the former warlike and cannibal Wnikatos-breathing prayers on behalf of the departed, and cheerfully incurring expense and loss of time to show respect to his memory. The natural intelligence, kindliness, honesty, and industry of which the Maori is capable were exemplified in the case of Moses Wallace, whose bi-tory was a remarkable one, and well worth relating. He was well known to Sir George Grey, in whose service he had been, and a brother of his is" still supposed to be in his employ. Many years ago Moses was taken to England with several other New Zealand natives, and introduced with them to Queen Victoria, whose robe they kissed. Moses took alway with him from England a large sum of money, as the natives were lectured upon and exhibited with profitable results. He returned to the colonies, and was one of tho original party from whom Maori Point, on the Shotover, derived its name, he being a shareholder in the rich claim, which made the place famous. While working this claim, it is related that a party of rowdies jumped the claim and ordered the Maories out; who then left and went to their huts, but shortly reappeared in a manner which struck terror into the hearts of the jumpers. Stripped nearly naked, with, glittering war paint, and hatchets in hand, the Maoris were seen stealthily approaching, and the jumpers made a hasty retreat out of the range of their avenging tomahawks. After this, they were allowed to work their claim out quietly. Moses has been for some years past working at Bracken's Gully, where he was much beloved by young and old, for his sociable and kindly habits, and at his funeral many an eye was dimmed with tears. His circumstances of late years have not been very good, as he" had not the art of money-keeping, and was of a very generous disposition. He had been ailing for some time, and when taken to the hospital recently, was far advanced in disease. His age was 49 years. The Templars intend to erect a monument over his grave, and no doubt their conduct will be pleasing to their brethren, especially those in the North Island.—Correspondent Cromwell Argus.