HAERE KI O KOUTOU TIPUNA

Mr. T. P. Tawera Mr Thomas Phillip Tawera died recently in Napier, aged 76, and his body was brought back to the Tanenui-a-Rangi marae in the Nuhaka Valley where a large gathering of friends and relatives met to pay their last respects. Mr Tawera had lived all his life in the district. During the war years he was in great demand as a musician to raise funds for patriotic purposes. He was employed by the Wairoa County Council for a great number of years until he recently retired at the age of 75 and moved to Napier. He was twice married. From his former marriage he leaves 11 children and from his later marriage, two. They are: Thomas Robert, Gisborne, Maraea (Mrs Timu), Wairoa, Mary (Mrs Bess), Gisborne, Hine (Mrs Keil), Mahia, Hana (Mrs Deans), Clive, Miriama (Mrs Maaka), Gisborne, Sidney, Wellington, Jacob, Hastings, Martha, Whakatu, Moki (Mrs Akurangi), Whakatu, Molly (Mrs Marsh), Bridge Pa, Kate and Rere, Nuhaka. The service at the marae was conducted by Bishop G. Pomana and that at the Nuhaka Chapel in the absence of Bishop W. H. Christy overseas was conducted by Mr M. Hapi assisted by Misses P. Edwards of Hastings and D. Smith of Nuhaka. Mr Tawera was buried at the family cemetery in Nuhaka.

Mr. H. S. Ruru A prominent Maori sportsman in his youth and a former chairman and member of the Wanganui representative Rugby selection panel, Mr Hata Sonny Ruru, of Koromiko Road, Gonville, died suddenly on 25 May, aged 60. Mr Ruru had made his mark in Wanganui not only as a sportsman but also as a Maori land consultant and interpreter. In Rugby he represented Hawkes Bay as second five-eighth while still at Te Aute Boys' College. Later as a Maori all Black trialist he was considered in his day to be one of the most brilliant attacking backs in New Zealand. He was the Maori representative on the Wanganui Rugby Football Union's management committee for five years and served a three-year term as a member of the New Zealand Rugby Union's Maori Advisory Board. He was assistant manager and coach of the Maori All Black team which toured Fiji and Samoa several years ago. For many years he worked in the Maori land section of the Maori Affairs Department as clerk and interpreter of the Maori Land Court. He later set up his own business as a land agent in Ridgway Street and was a member of the Real Estate Institute. Ill-health forced him to retire three years ago. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Mrs Emma Chote, of Blenheim, and sons. Rangi and Tama-i-Uia, both of Wanganui. The funeral service was held at St Peter's Anglican Church, Gonville. Mr Ruru was buried in the family burial ground at Taki Pa, Te Karaka, Gisborne.

Mrs M. Bryan With the death of Mrs Micere Bryan, of Tuapiro, Katikati, the district has lost a respected and admired Maori woman. Her tangi was attended by Maoris and Pakehas from far afield. Mrs Bryan was born at Bowentown 71 years ago and was the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs W. Witeri. Throughout her life Mrs Bryan was deeply interested in Maori art and culture and became a skilled instructor of arts and crafts. As a member of the Katikati Women's Welfare League, she became a representative in the Maori Labour Party movement, and attended council meetings as a representative of Tauranga and Katikati. Mrs Bryan married her husband, Mr George Bryan (Maori name Paraeana) at the Judea meeting house, and the couple lived at Katikati. There are 15 children, 60 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.