A GREAT CHIEFTAIN

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 246, 18 November 1929, Page 5

A GREAT CHIEFTAIN

GOYERNOll UNYE1LS MEMOR1AL. LATE RENATA KAWEPO. This morning His Excellency the Govcrnor-General paid a visit to Omahu for tlie purpose of unveiling the handsonie iucmorial which lias been crected in the churcli yard to the meniory of tlie late Renata Kawepo. The ]ilace was decorated for the oecasion and there was n large attendance. His Lordship the Bisliop of Aotearoa, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Benuett, couducted tlie dedicntion service, assisted bv the Rev. Hakowai. this concluding with tlie singing of ''0 God Our Help ln Ages Past." In a brief address, His Lordship said that Renata Kawepo was a chieftain who had done nmeli in tlie sottlenient of this part of the country, and lie was possessed of a great mana which made him a wonderiul leader of meu. He took a dcep interest in his people, bo-th spiritually and nationally, and this luemorial woukl serve to enslirine his great deeds and those of his followers. The speaker urged the people of today to follow in the foo-tsteps of tlieir forefatliers and so make for happiness and prosperitv, with hoth the Maori and tlie pakoha marcliing together for tlieir future weal. l'n unveiling the inemona], His Excellency said that he felt liononrecl and pi'ivileged to take part in such a ceremony. A soldier was always plcased to pav a tvibute to vaiiiois oi the past, especiallv one such as Renata Kawepo, who stood for loyalty and faitlifullv stood to liis woi'cl to keep the treatv, so setting an example whicb would live through future generations. Tt was this, more tnan liis deeds of war, that perpetuatecl 1ns memorv, and the iiifluence of sucn men Avoulcl spreacl far and "wide. Tins spirit liad been demonstrated at tlie Great War, wheu Iiraori and pakelia foughf shoulcler to shoulder with the loyalty as their late chief had exbibitHis Excellency said that he arid Lady Fergusson were leaving Kew Zeaiand sliortlv, bnt they woulcl carry away happy memories of close acquaintanceship witli the Maori people, in whom they liad taken a great inTliis association and loyalty woukl be convcyed to His Majestv. "May you all live :n loyalty ancL peace and in the keep of tlie ^Great Iving who is Sovereign of us all, was liis concluding remark. The unveiling of tlie memonal tollowed, "The Last Post" being sounded by Trumpeter A. A. George. Tlie memorial is inscnbed:— io Renata Kawepo 1860-18i2. names of 30 followers who fouglit witli the late chief during the Hau Hau rebellion follows, tlie inscriptiou endinc. "For Queen and Country." In the course of the morning, His Lordship presented His Excelleiicy with a greenstone Tangawliai, wlneh helonged to the late cliief, and to Mr W. Heslop, wlio founded the movemeut to secure tlie memorial, lie presented 'a piec© of greenstone which was worked b.v Renata Kawepo, The gathering concluded with tlie National Anthem.