THE DEAIH OF MATIU RAPANA.

Thames Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 7398, 14 January 1893, Page 2

THE DEAIH OF MATIU RAPANA.

Alleged f< Makatu."

CHARGE AGAINST TAIPARI.

« MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING."

For some days past several natives have congregated at the Rununga House at Parawai for the purpose of discussing a charge of " makutn" preferred by a Tauranga prophetess named Kapiti against the well-known Parawai chief Taipari, The dispute, however, has within the last day or two assumed more serious proportions, and an immense " gathering of the clans" has set in, Maoris arriving in large numbers from up country yesterday afternoon and this morning. The facts of the case are that towards the end of December last the well-known Maori chief Matiu Rapana, brother of Mrs Stewart, died under the following circumstances; He was somewhat seriously ill, and was under the treatment of *'r. Williams, until one day a native from Komata visited him, and said, "Look here, -Matiu, you will never get better. You have been makutued (bewitched), and the best thing you can do is to come up and see the prophetess, who will remove the evil spirit." To this Rapana replied that he had no desire to go to Koraata, nor to give up Dr. Williams' prescription, as he thought he would get all right. The visitor, however, insisted that Rapana could not recover even if he had the assistance of the whole, of the doctors in New Zealand, and that unless he saw Kapiti without delay he would certainly die. Rapana consulted with his relatives and friends, who were averse to his going to Komata, but eventually he acted upon the advice of his visitor, and notwithstanding the remonstrance of his relatives went to see the prophetess. Here he became worse, which was but natural, as there were no comforts of any kind, and he soon afterwards died. Being doubtless afraid that she would be blamed for causing Rapana's death, Kapiti boldly averted that he had succumbed solely owing to Taipari having exercised the power of makutu, or bewitching, which she alleged he possessed.

TAIPARI BECAME INDIGNANT > at such a serious charge being levelled against him, as according to Maori custom the offence is punishable by death, and be forthwith called a meeting of the natives of the Peninsula, at which representatives were present of the various tribes, including the Ngatipaoa, Ngatitamatera, Ngatiwhanaunga, Ngatimaru, and Ngarahiri. At this meeting the whole of the circumstances in connection with the allegation made by Kapiti against Taipari were discussed at considerable length, and it was finally decided that Taipari and the tohunga Kapiti should proceed together to King Tawhiao and another tohunga named Koiri. To this, however, Kapiti demurred, and eventually she declined to make the visit. Taipari then set off. TO SEE THE KING on his own account, after having previously telegraphed that he tvas coming. It was raining heavily, but notwithstanding this he proceeded to the Miranda, where he was joined hy twenty other Maoris, and they set out for the King County. Upon arrival at their destination, however, the party found that the King had just left on a visit to another settlement, but they were loyally welcomed by faia aon Te Ngahe and the old tohunga Koiri, The.latter, according to Taipari's statement to the natives yes'erday, said to him: "I hav# already seen you in a vision and explained to my people what kind of a man you are, and where you would sit when you came here." Quite a number of na ives had arrived from the Waikato to see whether the vision of Koiri would be verified, and were greatly interested whe.n it was fo.und that Taipari immediately'upqn his arrival went and sat down in the place she j had previously indicated. The details of ' the accusation having been explained to her, Taipari saitt he desired her to state whether it was true that he had,,

MAgIITUED MATIU &AFASTA. The old woman thereupon commanded Taipari to divest himself of the whole of bis clothing except his undershirt, and after waving her hands over him for some urinates, ordered him to again dress hinjsiif, ■ asd give'tieri '.cofe. Tfeiß ww

done, and the coin critically examined, after which she

ADDRESSED TAIPARI,

and said she had no hesitation in stating that he had not makutued Matiu Rapana, and that had he done so he would see the face of deceased in the coin. There could be no doubt, however, that Matiu had died from natural causes. She also informed Taipari that previous to his coming King Tawhiao had told her not to be afraid of Taipari because of his rank, but to tell him honestly and truthfully whether he had caused the death of Matiu. Taipari then remarked to the tohuriga that be

WAS AFRAID OF KAPITI, who might makutu his children. It is said by Taipari that she then told him that his eldest son had a scar on the left side of the nose, which he was obliged to admit wa9 correct. The tohunga then stated that Kapiti could not makutu his children, who would be all tight, and added that if the Tauranga prophetess denied what she (Koiri) had said, she would come to the Thames and see her. Taipari then telegraphed to the natives here that he was returning, and told them to

CALL ANOTHER MEETING of the natives of the Peninsula. This was accordingly done, and the date fixed for for yeterday aft prnoon, when there was a big asro^blage, about 300 Maoris being preset from every part of the Peninsula. In the course of the proceedings Kapiti explained that she accused Taipari of havinsr'ordered^Pita, who was a prophet, to makutu Ranana, the reason being that Rapana and Mrs Stewart, his sister, had succeeded in winning the Kauaeranga block in the Native Land Court. She acted as a doctor for the deceased without any medicine, her works being of a purely spiritual nature. Taipari expressed bis deep grief that Kapiti should have made such a serious charge against him, as he was entirely innocent. He detailed the result of his visit to the King Country, as given above, and said the decision of Koiri was that the assertions made by Kapiti were untrue. He contended that she was conspiring to injure him because she did not like the people to know that Matiu Rapana hsd died in her possession. This of course angered the Paproa natives, but it was true. Meha te Moananui, Hanra Tareranui, Hohepa Kapene, and Poibipi addressed the meeting in favor of Kapiti, and Tu''ua te Rauroba, Hori Ngakapa, Hoani Nahe, Tamati Paetai, Ngapari Whaiapu, and others of the Ngatipaoa and Ngatimaru in favor of Taipari, and said they did not believe what Kapiti had stated against him. The other side, however, cast doubts upon the version given by Taipari of his visit to the tohunga in the King Country, and the statement made to him by Koiri. Kapiti also again rose to her feet, her magic wand in her hand, and ..aid she would like to see the great prophetess herself, as she, was a better prophet and could see through clouds more distinctly than anyone else could. Ib was then urged by Poibipi, a tohnnga acting with Kapiti, that the latter should give in, as it was clear that she bad made a

FALSE ACCUSATION AGAINST TAIPARI,

and that it was useless going to see the King again, as Tawbiao had given Koiri authority to speak on his behalf, and she had evidently told the truth, At a subsequent stage of the meeting Kapiti admitted that she had wrongly accused Taipari of having exercised the power of makutu, whereupon some of the latter's people maintained that it was too late to withdraw, and that the King must be consulted and decide. Taipari also contended that it was necessary the whole matter should be investigated, and although he could iustit'ifce proceedings against Kapiti for defamation of character, he preferred that they should

GO TO THE KING TOGETHER, and let him decide who was telling the untruth. . Kapiti replied that she would go in seven months' time, but Taipari maintained that if she did not go at the time desired by him he would put her in the big house at Shortland—meaning the gaol. Kapiti here again admitted that she had falsely accused Taipari, and the meeting was adjourned until to day, by which time a large nnmber of other' natives had arrived Taipari again insisted that Kapiti should accompany him on a visit to Tawhiao, but her friends urged that it was unnecessary, as the other prophetess had acted under instructions from the King. Some of Taipari's people requested Kapiti to stand up attain and repeat what she had stated yesterday, viz.: that she had falsely accused Taipari, but this she positively declined to do. This action on the part of Kapiti is likely to delay a settlement of the dispute, but the natives seem in no way desirous of coming to a decision, as while the korero lasts they are being treated to a "feast" at the expense of Taipari.