He was a chief of the Ngaitahu, Waitaha, and Ngatimamoe tribes of the South Island. His genealogy extended back to the time of the traditional migrations from Hawaiki, and he was a direct descendant of the famous navigator, Tamatea, the captain of the Takitimu canoe, which arrived from Hawaiki sometime during the 10th century. Mr Parata was also a descendant of Pai-kea-raki, where he resided with his uncle, Haereroa. Then he joined the pilot service at Otago Heads, but after a few years of that employment he rejoined his uncle at Puketeraki, where he resided during the rest of his life, following agricultural and pastoral pursuits.
He was elected to Parliament in 1885 by the South Island Maoris as their representative, and served them with credit for 27 years. He was succeeded in this post by his son Charles Rakatauhake, who is the present member for the Southern Maori district in the House of Representatives. The Government called the deceased to the Legislative Council in 1912, in recognition and appreciation of his long and valued term of parliamentary work. Mrs Parata died some years ago, and five sons and six daughters survive to mourn their loss. These are Messrs John and Henry Parata (Puketeraki), Thomas and William T. Parata (Rotorua), and Charles R. Parata, M.P., Mesdames Topi (Ruapuke), Ellison and Te Tau (Puketeraki), Karetai (Otakou), Clive Evans (Dunedin), and Miss Parata (Puketeraki).
The burning question of the speed of motor cars on country roads was again under discussion at the meeting of the Bruce County Council yesterday. Cr King said he did not think it right that motors should pass other vehicles on the roads at a speed of 20 or 30 miles an hour in the manner that many of them did at the present time. In his opinion the whole of the local bodies controlling roads should arrange a conference in regard to this matter and arrive at a definite ruling that would govern all parts of the province. That course seemed to him to be preferable to the present system, which meant a varying speed limit in the different districts, and he would move that the other local bodies in Otago be approached with that object in view. Cr Driver seconded the motion. Cr Scott said he agreed with the proposal in so far as it referred to the restrictions upon speed, but he wanted to know how such restrictions could be enforced. He thought the real remedy and the only remedy was to so construct the machine that it would be incapable of an excessive speed. - (Laughter.) At present the roads suffered a great deal and the community was faced with a serious danger and something should be done. The chairman drew attention to the county by-laws and quoted from these to show that speed restrictions existed at present. The motion was lost by 6 votes to 4.
Mr J. McNeil, an employee in the Dunedin Post Office, whilst on his holidays, left Invercargill at 6.30 a.m. on Monday on his bicycle, intending to travel to Dunedin - a distance of probably 150 miles by road. He was given two days in which to do the trip. Reaching Woodlands at 7.10 he had a cup of tea, and refreshments at Edendale, which he left at 8.20. At Gore he took 40 minutes for refreshments, leaving at 10.30. From Pukerau to Waipahi, which he reached at 0.15 p.m., he encountered rough roads and had to walk a good deal. Clinton was reached at 1 p.m., and Mr McNeil allowed himself an hour for dinner. He arrived at Balclutha at 3.45, and Milton (here he had tea) at 6 o'clock. At Henley he was delayed for half-an-hour repairing a puncture, and arrived at Mosgiel at 9 o'clock. It being then 9 o'clock and quite dark, Mr McNeil decided that he had had enough of the trip, and completed his journey by rail. The actual time taken on the trip was 14� hours, but of this two hours 20 minutes, were occupied in refreshments and repairs. For a day's journey by an amateur, Mr McNeil's performance is certainly a meritorious one.
``It is better to be born lucky than rich,'' has been lately exemplified by a returned soldier in Christchurch (says the Press). He fought throughout the Boer war, and was not even wounded. He went right through the Gallipoli campaign without a scratch, and took part ``somewhere in France'', being wounded just enough to cause his discharge. He returned practically well, and shortly after his arrival home his employer died and left him a nice little income for a term of years. - ODT, 7.3.1917.
