DEATH OF A NOTED MAORI CHIEF.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XII, 20 March 1897, Page 354

DEATH OF A NOTED MAORI CHIEF.

The death of the Hetereni Taipari on his way from Auckland to the Thames on Saturday last recalls the fact that it was to the friendliness of this chief that Auckland owed the opening up of the Thames Goldfields. After the Waikato War, when the seat of Government had been removed from Auckland, and a large number of the inhabitants of the Northern city found themselves reduced to straits toget employment. One hope only presented itself, and that was in the gold-bearing area in the Coromandel Peninsula. The natives who owned the land were, however, averse to Europeans prospecting. and it looked as if their opposition would not be easily overcome While matters were in this state Taipari, who was, with his family, the principal owner of the site of the present township of Shortland, came forward and agreed to throw open his land. In addition, he used his influence with the other chiefs, so that by degrees a larger area was thrown open to prospectors and miners. It was on Taipari’s land at Karaka Creek that Walker. Williamson, and J. Smallman discovered gold. Taipari was al ways a staunch friend of Europeans, by whom he was greatly respected for his uprightness, geniality, and hospitable character. Among our illustrations on page 341 we give a photo of the lying in state, which, together with the tangi or lamentations over the dead, is a great feature among the Maoris.