Korowhiti Douglas

Edward Landells was born in Walkergate Street in Alnwick, Northumberland, England on 6 July 1838. His parents were Adam and Margaret Landells (nee Douglas) who had married at Gretna Green in Dumfries, Scotland on 8 March 1832. The family left England in September 1849 for Adelaide, Australia, on board the 'Douglas'. There were twenty-one deaths on this voyage, including Edward's mother and little brother. Soon after arrival in Australia, Edward's father re-married.

In around 1853 Edward joined the Royal Navy and served on board the 'Matilda'. After receiving punishment for being absent without leave he jumped ship with the intention of heading for New Zealand, changing his last name to his mother's maiden name of Douglas. On 11 July 1864 Edward enlisted with the 3rd Waikato Regiment and arrived in New Zealand from Australia soon after. He also served with the Alexandra (Pirongia) Cavalry Volunteers, the Waiuku Rifle Volunteers and Gibert Mair's Arawa Contingent.

Edward married Korowhiti Tuataka on 6 July 1870 at Wairoa in Hawke's Bay. They ran the Halfway House coach stop and hotel at Ngawaro between Tauranga and Rotorua. The family moved to Wairoa in Hawke's Bay in around 1874, and then back again prior to 1882 where they ran the Halfway House again, now renamed the Bush Hotel. By 1891 the Bush Hotel had closed and the family moved to Galatea between Rotorua and Taupo and then to Okauia near Matamata in 1894 where Korowhiti was involved in protests against the surveying of her ancestral lands. Edward died on 21 December 1916.

On 10 January 1917 the Bay of Plenty Times printed and obituary for Edward Douglas: On December 21 there died at Okauia, after a long illness, Mr Edward Douglas, who was well-known in this part of New Zealand in the early days. He fought at Gate Pa and in many other engagements in the Maori War, afterwards taking up his residence at Rotorua. At the time of the eruption the late Mr Douglas rendered excellent aid to the surviving settlers, he being the first man to enter the stricken zone after the catastrophe. He was born at Alnwick, Northumberland, 79 years ago, afterwards emigrating to Australia and later to New Zealand. At Wairoa, H.B he married Korowhiti Tuataka, who afterwards became well known as a petitioner to the House of Representatives in connection with Native land. The late Mr Douglas in the early days kept the half-way house between Tauranga and Rotorua (Ngawaro). He had been ailing for about nine months before his death, the illness being the result of an accident. The funeral took place at Okauia on December 24, the Rev. R. W. Jackson, Presbyterian Minister at Matamata, conducting the service. The deceased leaves a widow, 11 children, 59 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren to mourn their loss (p. 2).

Korowhiti died on 26 August 1920. Both are buried in the family urupa at Okauia, Matamata.

Source: Biography by Debbie McCauley http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/tauranga_local_history/topics/show/2667...