Valentine Taina Boscawen Savage

Ben Savage, came from America aboard the whaling ship Eliza Jane in the 1830s and deserted in Suva, arriving at Kororareka on the Adeline in the Bay of Islands

With some other deserters, he built a small ship & started coastal trading, marrying his Maori wife, Hineato, of Te Whanau a te Hara-Waka, in 1840

Taina Valentine Boscawen Savage was born on 23 November 1842. 2 years later Ben and his family moved to Matata, Bay of Plenty

Taina was brought up learning things Maori, waiata, oriori, legends, how to fish & hunt birds, games, kehua, turehu, matakite, muru, whakapapa. Rangi-i-paia, chief of Ngati-Hikakino taught him much

He was sent to School in Auckland, the Tapsell boys were also pupils, until aged 15 he was apprenticed as a boat builder. He built many ships during his life

The editor was presented in the 1930s with a manuscript written by Savage and spent the next 9 years re-writing it & checking it for accuracy with the old man. At 98 years of age he could still clearly tell his whakapapa & so help with land claims

Family history & old Maori custom, which Taina wanted recorded & not forgotten is recounted

The Antecedents and Early Life of Valentine Savage, known as Taina. Recounted by GM Henderson. Engravings specially cut in wood E Mervyn Taylor. 1948 1st edition. The Wingfield Press, Wellington

http://members2.boardhost.com/wlorac/msg/1175473983.html

http://www.whakatanehistorical.org.nz/Journal%20index/S-T.htm

Taina  Married Anne Elizabeth Moulden b 18 Sept 1848 Ratcliffe Middlesex England she married Taina in 1865.  She died 19 Jun 1900 at Hawai near Opotiki

From Lee Mead https://www.facebook.com/groups/303338463072981/

From NZ Herald 23 Nov 1938. 96TH BIRTHDAY MR. VALENTINE SAVAGE VETERAN BOATBUILDER Born near Silverdale, Auckland, on November 23. 1842, Mr. Valentine Savage, of Franklin Road. Ponsonby. will celebrate his 96th birthday to-day. As a youth Mr. Savage learned the boatbuilding trade in Auckland, and he later built a number of boats at Whakatane and Opotiki. carrying on his trade until he was nearly 90. A few years ago Mr. Savage went to live at his property at Hawai, near Opotiki. his vineyard there being one of the showplaces of the district. For the last four years, however, lie has lived in Auckland. Mr. Savage retains vivid memories of the troublesome days of the Maori War in Opotiki, during which he was involved in many exciting experiences.

NZ Herald 22 Jan 1942. DEATH AT 99 MR. VALENTINE SAVAGE The death occurred yesterday at his daughter's residence, 32 Franklin Road, Ponsonbv- of Mr. Valentine Savage, aged 99 years. Born at the Wade, now known as Silverdale, he was apprenticed to the shipbuilding trade. After conducting his own yard at St. George's Bay for a number of years, he left for Thames, where he established a shipbuilding business that was well known during the gold rush years. He built a number of boats at Whakatane and Opotiki, not retiring until he was nearly 90 years of age.

Mr. Savage resided at Opotiki during the troublous days of the Maori War and had many exciting experiences. Always interested in aquatic sports, Mr. Savage steered whaleboats under the colours of the old Hauraki Club at 30 Auckland regattas, his craft winning the majority of these events. On his retirement he went to his property at Hawai, 18 miles from Opotiki, moving to Auckland about eight years ago. He is survived by three sons and four daughters.

RESIDENT OF OPOTIKI

MR. VALENTINE SAVAGE

[from our own correspondent] OPOTIKI. Tuesday Mr. Valentine Savage, who is the oldest man in Opotiki, celebrates his 90th birthday to-morrow. Born at Wade (now known as Silverdale) on November 23, 1842, Mr. Savage is the son of the late Mr. Ben Savage, one of the old-time whalers. His mother was a member of the Whanau-Apanui tribe. Mr. Savage is a boatbuilder by trade and served for several years as a young man with Mr. G. White, of Auckland. Later he built boats at Whakatane under contract with Mr. White. His father at the same time built a schooner at Whakatane, where the Strand now is. Mr. Savage came to Opotiki to see his people, and he relates how when lie arrived there he met the Rev. Carl Volkner, with whom he had a long conversation. This was the last time he saw Mr. Volkner before the latter was murdered by the Maoris. Going on to Hawai Mr. Savage was given a great welcome by the local tribe, the chief of which was Tataua. The Hauhaus had assembled at Hawai and were working themselves up to attack Opotiki, and Mr. Savage recalls how he called his mother's people together and advised them strongly to have nothing to do with the rebels, as if they did they would be sure to lose their lands and their homes. Mr. Savage tells a vivid story of the murder of Mr. Volkner, and also of the escape of Mr. Grace. The Hauhaus had decided on killing Mr. Volkner first, and Mr. Grace next, but the latter's life was saved by a Maori named Te Wai who secreted him in the bottom of a boat and put out to sea, where a vessel picked them up and took them to Auckland. For many years Mr. Savage carried on his trade of boat-building at Opotiki, retiring only about a year ago. lie has always taken a great interest in rowing and has coached many good crews in Opotiki. His wife died many years ago, but ho has several sons and daughters living. One son is now working at the trade his father earned on so long. Mr. Savage now lives a few miles down the coast with his son, Mr. P. Savage, and is able to get about as well as most men 20 years younger. Surrounded by a beautiful garden, and overlooking the ocean, which rolls up within a few chains of the dosr, it is a lovely spot which the old veteran has chosen for his retirement.