LIFE'S END

Te Ao Hou, December 1960, Page 19

LIFE'S END Puhiwahine on her return from Oparure stayed on at Ongarue in the care of her son George. Among the earliest recollections of the writer was of Puhiwahine strolling along the roadway through our little village at Ongarue. She would often come among the little children playing their games, and with a softly spoken word she would affectionately pat a bobbing little head as she passed on her way. The last recollection is of the old lady coming towards the writer, softly humming a tune. A few paces away she stopped and looked intently at the apprehensive child before her, and then suddenly without warning she began to sing quite loudly. The child panicked and ran off to his mother. The writer was to learn later of the Hauauru romance from his granduncle, Te Hurinui Te Wano. His explanation for Puhiwahine's behaviour that day was because she must have learnt at that time that the writer was of the same family as Hauauru, and that she only did it in fun and meant no harm. From all accounts Puhiwahine lived a happy life at Ongarue. From the front door of George's home and to the east the valley of the Mangakaahu opened up a grand view of the Tuhua range. At its southern foothills nestled the Ngati-Hinemihi village of Petania, her birthplace. The writer opines that this view of Tuhua gave solace to her soul, and peace of mind; and that she found happiness and contentment in her declining years at Ongarue. The dawnlight of a summer's morn was lighting up the high bush-clad range of Tuhua when Puhiwahine passed away to join the many in the Whare Kura o Matangi-reia, The Temple of Fragrant Breezes. Editor's Note. This concludes Mr Jones' biography of the life and art of Puhiwahine, but a final instalment will appear in the next issue, giving the whakapapa of Puhiwahine, and a fantasy by Mr Jones seeking to throw what light he can on the relationship of Puhiwahine to the great German poet, Goethe. Te Keehi Kati, widow of Maraku Kati. (These two were also first cousins.) She is wearing two family heirlooms, a rounded piece of greenstone which at one time belonged to Te Rauparaha, and which he presented to Puhiwahine, and a greenstone tiki called Maunganui, which has been a family heirloom for several generations. The photograph was taken in 1958.