‘Gentleman George.'

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20342, 27 June 1934, Page 6

‘Gentleman George.'

Twice-told Tales

Picturesque Metehau and his Tuahiwi Claim.

By

TE ARITAUA PITAMA.

XIV.

the personalities referred to in these interesting bi-weekly contributions is George Williams Metehau. In setting out his claim to Te Tuahiwi, he gives the following reasons:— I. —His right by conquest (at the Battle of Mona). 11. —His ancestral right through Aritaua. 111. —His right by the Maori law of Utu, or compensation (the giving of mats and greenstone). His claim, however, seems to have become void through his inability to prove his right by occupation. There is yet another side of this interesting episode. The reason for the Kaiapohians’ murder of Te Rauparaha’s leading chiefs is to be found in a petition presented in 1869 to the House of Representatives by Te Patihana, South Island M.H.R. “ After Te Maiharanui had returned from Te Raupahara’s camp, the latter visited another Pa of ours, called Tuahiwi, and there sought for the grandmother of Te Maiharanui. Thev dug her body up and ate it, all decomposed as it was. Te Maiharanui was greatly distressed when he heard this. Then his elder relatives, the great chiefs of Kaiapohia, said to him: “Do not threaten to kill lest further evil follow in your footsteps.” Te Maiharanuis distinguished grandmother was Te Ruaki. Her son was called

Te Pura and, according to Stack's version, wes known to Lyttelton residents as Pitama. Te Pura was captured at the fall of Kaiapohia and, because of his distinguished rank, was made the personal slave of Te Rauparaha. In recording-Maori history, probably one of the most outstanding difficulties to be confronted is the use of several names by which an individual may be known. The person concerned may have four names and may even hold titles to land in each of these separate names. Te Pura, according to Metehau. was also known as Pakipaki. w’ho was his father. Is there little wonder that Metehau, being the descendant of Te Ruaki. was most anxious to have for himself that place which had been desecrated by the northern war-lord? Connected with Kaiapohia were two reserves which were regarded as distinctly “ Tapu,” namely Waituere, an old burial ground (at Mr John Young’s bridge) and Te Tuahiwi, where was housed the tribal deity, KahUkura. According to my grandmother, who is the only surviving pupil of Miss Taylor s boarding school, which was founded in the early fifties of last century, there were only two houses in the bush at Te JTuuhiwi. Most of the Maoris were domiciled at Te Ruataniwha and Te Kai o-te-Atua; along the banks of the Cam. It was usual on fine Sundays for Miss Taylor’s pupils to walk from Te Tuahiwi to the Cam settlement for Sunday worship. The school was situated just at the present entrance to the vicarage. A Chase With a Tomahawk. On the erection of the church in 1867. the natives moved from the Hiwi and settled at Te Tuahiwi. During this period Geoige Williams Metehau had made several excursions both to America and Australia, and it was during his absence that Buller and Mantell, two Government officials, called together the first Tuahi.vi Runanga. On his return from Australia he was horrified to find that the newlyformed Runanga had given the land which he claimed to the church authorities. Alas! His ire was aroused. Discarding his European dress for .that ofahis ancestors, and armed with a tomahawk, he gave chase to Mantell, and although unable to catch his prey, he succeeded in removing ihe surveyor’s pegs and with the assistance of a woman, by the name of Matatau, they increased the area of the Te Tuahiwi reserve by putting them along the route of the .present main north road, from the Woodend Hotel corner. He was able to claim for himself fourteen acres from the reserve which was given over for public purposes. lie petitioned Parliament several times for the land now held by the Bishop of Christchurch. It is another unfortunate incident of the Maoris giving land away. Metehau’s association with the Pakeha gave him the honoured title of “ Gentleman George.” He was immaculate in his dress and his head, which was most tapu, was never touched by another human being, not even the barber, for he preferred even to cut his own hair.