HAERE KI O KOUTOU TIPUNA HAERE KI O KOUTOU TIPUNA

MR JOHN DAVID LAKE The late John David Lake was born at Christ-church in January, 1913. He was educated at the Riccarton Public School and the West Christ-church District High School. He qualified as an accountant by attending night classes after he left school and his first position was with Ford Dealers in Christchurch where he started as a junior. After he had qualified as an accountant, he transferred to Westport and acted as accountant to John Kilkenny Limited, the Ford dealers, for some years. He married in Westport and later transferred to Linwood Motors Limited, in Wanganui. He was with this firm, who are the General Motors dealers there, for some years during the Second World War. He was medically unfit for military service. In 1945, he returned to Christchurch to join his brother, Mr H. R. Lake, in the practice of public accountancy and since 1945, he was a partner first in the firm of Lake and Lake, and later of Lake, Lake, Glynn and Smith. In his younger days, he was a keen footballer and while in Christchurch he played senior grade football there, and represented Buller. In his later years he played golf and bowls. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Christchurch Golf Club. He leaves a wife and small daughter.

MR NGAKOMA NGAMANE Mr Ngakoma Ngamane, elder of the Ngati-Tamatera tribe of the Thames district, died recently. He was 73 years of age. The greater part of his life was spent on the Coromandel Peninsula. He was highly respected among Maori and Pakeha alike, and interested himself in political matters, Maori history, and anything concerning the betterment of the Maori people. Mr Ngamane was president of the Colville School Committee and secretary for over ten years. He was instrumental in settling the question of the present school site. He was engaged in patriotic affairs during both world wars, was always interested in sport, particularly football, and was a keen fisherman. He was buried at Kopuarahi Maori cemetery, Paeroa.

MR TAWAKE MATENGA Mr Tawake Matenga, of Ratana, died recently as a result of a road accident at Waitotara. Mr Matenga was a returned soldier of the second world war, in which he served with the Maori Battalion. As a result of one action in which he took a leading part, he was awarded the Military Medal. Mr Matenga had a long army career, arriving in England with the Maori Battalion in 1940 and he saw fighting in most of the campaigns in which the New Zealand division in the Middle East was engaged. Eventually, he became Company Sergeant Major. After the war, Mr Matenga carried on his military interests as a member of the Wellington-West Coast-Taranaki Regiment. Full military honours were accorded him at his funeral at Ratana Pa.

MR HIRA PAENGA The well-known Ngati-Porou chief and elder, Mr Hira Paenga, died recently. He was a respected authority on Maori culture and lore, prominently associated with many organisations and committees. He was a pillar of the Church of England, representing the Whangara parish of the Waiapu diocese in Synod. He was also an East Coast member of the Te Aute Trust Board.

MR HAROLD WILLS A pakeha who was recognised as one of the foremost authorities on the Maori language, Mr Harold Wills, died recently at Napier. He was 71. He taught Maori at both Te Aute and Hukarere Colleges and wrote a text book and reader for students of the language. He had almost completed a text-book at the time of his death. A son of the Rev. T. J. Wills and Mrs Wills, he was born at Opotiki and moved to Hawke's Bay when his father became curate of the Ormondville-Makotuku district. Mr Wills matriculated at Te Aute College, attended the Auckland University and then returned to Hawke's Bay to teach at the Port Ahuriri School, Napier. After a spell of teaching at Te Aute, Mr Wills became headmaster of the Otaki Maori College, which closed shortly before the War of 1939. In recognition of his achievements, Mr Wills was “adopted” into the Ngati-Raukawa tribe.