Ellison Plot

Thomas and Ethel Ellison were married at St Peter’s church in Wellington in 1899. Thomas, also known as Tom or Tamati Erihana (Ngāi Tahu and Te Āti Awa) was the son of Daniel (Raniera) Taheke Erihana/Ellison and Hana Nani Wera Weller. He was born in Otakou, Otago in 1867. Ethel was the daughter of Captain John Howell and his wife Caroline (Kararaina) Koronaki Paraone Brown.

Thomas attended Te Aute College and was later admitted to the Bar in Wellington. Not only was Thomas a successful solicitor but also a talented rugby player. He played for the Native Team in 1888-89 which visited England. He captained and coached the very first New Zealand rugby team. He proposed that the national uniform comprise a black jersey with a silver fern. Thomas also penned one of the earliest New Zealand rugby books ‘The Art of Rugby Football’.

Thomas and Ethel’s first child was Hinemura Gertrude Lois Ellison, born in 1900. In 1902, her sister May was born and sadly died at 18 days old. A third child, Nani Caroline, was born in July 1903. Sadly she too died in January 1904 and was buried with Nani at Karori Cemetery.

In 1904, Thomas developed ‘brain paralysis’ and was moved to Porirua Hospital on 4^th June. He escaped twice and was recaptured. He died suddenly on 2^nd October.

A large gathering of footballers and friends assembled at the Manawatu Station (Wellington) on 4th October to escort his coffin to Karori Cemetery.  Presumably Thomas was to be interred with his two daughters.

On arrival of the train from Porirua, it was found that his coffin was not on board. His body had been claimed at Porirua by his parents who wished that the burial should take place at Waikouaiti, Otago where the ancestors of the family rest. This was done with the consent of the Public Trust and his widow. With no funeral in Wellington to attend, several members of his old football club (Poneke) went to Porirua with their wreaths and placed them on the coffin of their dead comrade.

May & Nani Ellison are the only interments in this plot.

Plot: *Ch Eng/N/53