Topic: Guide Kate (Keita Middlemass) c1839-1925
Topic type:
Guided at Rotomahana with Guide Sophia pre eruption of Mt Tarawera
Excerpt from "Hot Lakes guides" by John Cresswell. p51
"Apart from Sophia, one of the few guides to make a lasting impression was Kate. She was the daughter of Rangitukia of Whakatane and a Scotsman name John or Jack Middlemass, a trader and ship builder of Ohope. She was born in Opotiki, reputedly in 1824, but more likely in about 1839. Also called Maggie, Kate or Keita, she was named after a deceased aunt. She guided during the same period as Sophia, starting about 1873. She may not have married until 1918, when she wed Isaak Petersson, a Swede of Whakatane. In 1882 Kate rescued a tourist from drowning in Lake Rotomahana. She was guiding a party of six European tourists and two Maori paddlers. A sudden squall capsized the canoe and Kate brought Mr R. Bird to the surface after he had disappeared. She was awarded the Royal Humane Society's bronze medal for saving life."
