MOHI TUREI PERSECUTED The disloyal subtribes of the Ngati-Porou were not punished but were freely pardoned by Mokena Kohere. In spite of their good fortune, the Ngaitane subtribe, in 1872, while Mokena Kohere was at Wellington, attending to his Parliamentary duties, burnt down Mohi Turei's house at Te Rapa on Hahau block. Fortunately Mohi and his family suffered no harm. A Maori committee inquired into the trouble, and found that the incendiaries had no excuse whatever for their malicious deed. After being molested in Hahau, Mohi Turei shifted his family to the old home at Waikoriri, on Kautaku block, where he put up a comfortable home. After the death of his first wife, Mohi married Kararaina Morimete, who bore him one daughter, Ngarangi (Mrs H. M. Kohere), and four sons, Paraone, Paaka, Teki and Peta. Of the five only one, Teki, survives. For many years Mohi Turei lived happily at Waikoriri until one day, without warning, Wi Tupaea and some women—practically the same people who burnt down his house at Hahau—attacked Mohi Turei. They cut down his fences and generally behaved in a troublesome manner. To their old, fanatic Hauhauism was added religious fervour, for at the time Mormornism had split the Anglican community. The Ngati-Hokopu were ready to fight, but Mohi, true to his profession, intervened by deciding to shift his family to Hatepe, Mokena Kohere's old strong-hold. A Maori committee under the chairmanship of the Wairoa chief, Raniera Turoa, inquired into the trouble in 1889. Mohi Turei and the Ngati-Hokopu claimed Waikoriri as part of the land of Mataura. The chief Anaru Kohaki, a staunch Mormon, led the opposition. He claimed the land as belonging to Hiihi although he (Kahaki) was not a descendant of Hiihi's. His services were purely gratuitous. He fully admitted Mohi Turei's long occupation of the land, and also that of the forbears of Ngati-Hokopu. He contended, however, that the occupation was without right. The committee accepted Anaru Kahaki's word, so Mohi lost his home. Those who cut down Mohi's fences did not put up a case. Their services were also gratuitous. In 1913, the Kautuku case came before Judge R. N. Jones and the same thing happened, and Mohi Turei failed to recover his home and cemetery. Last year Parliament was petitioned to have the case re-opened.

A GIFTED MAORI Mohi Turei was noted for his eloquence. He became a great preacher and often visited other tribes. He was a master of the Maori language, which he used to the best advantage. He was a disciple of the expert Pita Kopiti, of the Tapere-nui-a-Whatonga school. He composed hakas, of which one or two have become classics. During the fifteen years he was confined to his bed he contributed largely to the Maori journal, Te Pipiwharauroa. His masterpiece is undoubtedly his article on the great Ngati-Porou chief, Tuwhakairiora. He wrote also an excellent account of the Tokaakuku campaign in the Bay of Plenty. I have never forgotten his recital of the tau manu. He led a party, carrying a number of calabashes, full of preserved pigeons while he recited the tau manu. I have never heard the like of it since. Mohi Turei was also a carver. He helped to carve the two whares, Hinewaiapu and Tuwhakairiora. Mohi Turei had five children by his second wife, Kararaina, of whom only Teki, a dairy farmer at Cape Runaway, survives. Ngarangi died some years ago. For many years, before her marriage to Lieut. Henare Kohere, she was a schoolteacher. Paaka died recently. He worked most of his life in the Maori Land Court. Paraone, a clergyman, died not long after his ordination. Peta, who took part in the First World War, died some years ago. Ngarangi had three children. Huinga (Mrs George Nepia) followed in her mother's footsteps by becoming a teacher. Her husband looks after her dairy farm at Rangituka. Rina (Mrs Hawea Swan) lives in Gisborne. Hiki, who won his commission in the last war, is a carpenter at Gisborne. Mrs Swan has a large family. Mrs J. Parata, Te Kaha, Bay of Plenty, is a dental nurse, and her brother, Henare, is a teacher at Tokomaru Bay. It is reckoned Mohi Turei died at the age of 81. He was buried in the Okaroro cemetery, Hahau. His daughter, Waioka, at her last wish, was buried at the tribal cemetery, Taumata Pakihore, on the Kautuku block in 1930, despite the fact that her father failed to recover the cemetery. She wished to be buried alongside her forbears.