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DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALASIAN BIOGRAPHY.
[Kee

influence or dignity as one of the beads of his tribe. He was a chief of the old school, proud and domineering, given to hospitality on a lavish scale, and jealous of his people's rights. He was a large landed proprietor, receiving a considerable share of the rents in the Hawke's Bay district, and enjoying at the time of his death, in 1888, an income of about £3,000 a year. He lived in a good European house at Omahu, about twelve miles from Napier; but he never altogether lost his relish for the Maori communal mode of life. During the sittings of the Land Court, when large numbers of natives were accustomed to assemble at his house, he divided his hospitalities between champagne dinners to English visitors at the best hotels and open-air feasts to his own countrymen. He was famed all over the country for his lavish presents to neighbouring chiefs. For his services at the attack upon Omarunui (Hawke's Bay), where, under command of Colonel Whitmore, he led the Ngatiteupokoiri into the thick of the fight, he received from the Government a presentation sword. At the Porere fight, under Colonel McDonnell, he lost his left eye, in consideration of which the colony gave him a life pension of £100 a year. At his death he left behind a property estimated as being worth a quarter of a million sterling, and there was much litigation over his will, the matter being finally settled by Her Majesty's Privy Council in favour of William Broughton, his adopted half-caste son. Renata, like many of the old chiefs, was an accomplished speaker and a keen debater. He took an active interest in the religious instruction of his people, and insisted on defraying himself the entire cost of the small church at Omahu. His remains are interred at Omahu, and on the anniversary of his death his people are accustomed to assemble from various parts of the district to discuss his good qualities and to mourn his loss. A graceful tribute to the high character of this chief was placed on record by Judge Kenton in his famous judgment in the Pukehamoamoa case.

Keene, William, was born at Bath, England, in 1795. Having superintended the working of some salt mines in the Pyrenees for the French Government, he migrated to New South Wales in 1852, and in 1856 was appointed Government Geologist and Examiner of Coal Mines. He died in Sydney on Feb. 2nd, 1872.

Keepa, Major, N.Z.C., a Maori chief (more generally known as Major Kemp), is the son of Tanguru and Rereomaki, and possesses paramount influence in the Wanganui district of New Zealand. He figured prominently during the Maori war, always fighting on the side of the colonists, was often mentioned in despatches, received a sword of honour from her Majesty, and was decorated with the New Zealand Cross for personal valour in the field. The character of the man may be gathered from the following remarks of Dr. (now Sir Walter) Buller, who presented to him at Wanganui, on behalf of the Government, the New Zealand war medal:—"I think I may venture to say that, among all who have received this honourable badge, there has been no more worthy recipient than our staunch friend and ally Major Kemp, the son of Tanguru, and therefore a high-born chief of the Wanganui River related on his mother's side to the Ngatiapa Rangitane and Ngarauru tribes, own nephew to the late Hori Kingi, that good old chief who was the consistent friend of the pakeha and the guardian of peace in this district. I well remember that when I first came to the district, in 1804, Kemp had just received a commission as an ensign or lieutenant in the native contingent under Captain (now Colonel) McDonnell. After performing good service at Pipiriki, Kemp was ordered, with the rest of the contingent, to Opotiki, for the purpose of breaking up a Hauhau combination there and avenging the murder of the Rev. Mr. Volkner. On his return from that expedition, he served with McDonnell under General Cameron, and subsequently under Major-General Chute, throughout the campaign on the West Coast He assisted Sir George Grey at the taking of the Wereroa pa; and he afterwards fought under Colonels McDonnell and Whitmore, distinguishing himself on all occasions by his daring courage. … In recognition of his services, he was first promoted to the rank of captain, and afterwards to that of major; and Colonel McDonnell has on frequent public occasions borne testimony to his intrepidity and valour. When the rebellion had been crushed on the West Coast, Kemp was instructed by

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