THE KAINGAROA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 309, 30 December 1922, Page 15

THE KAINGAROA.

ITS PASSING TO THE CROWN. r gE STORY OF PERANIKO'S TANGI. TBy OAPT GILBERT MIAiIR, N.Z.C.) MAORI PROVERBIAL, SATTXGS : w»T\"GAROA TE MANIA I HAROA E TE **" KAIII". The Plain levelled by the soaring Eagle.l -. iXOA-KOA—The lonp enduring home. KAINGA-FOT'J — The quickly vanishing wealth. That great prairie of the Xorth Island, tie Kaingaroa Plain, extending for nearly a hundred miles north and Bouth n not without its folk lore and history for all its unpeopled and monotonous character. Its story goes far back into til. centuries; it is six hundred years since the wizard-like Xga-toro-i-rangi, the Hi'h Priest of the Arawa. cajioe, explored "this broad backbone of the island and bestowed place names aa far south M the great volcanoes ot the Tongariro "gome day the whole of this vast level «panse of' territory will be. put to pro4t£ble use: already the Northern and western part of it is becoming a new Our State Forest Service has already rfanted many millions of choice trees Hrhich are showing phenomenal growth, Kaingaroa bids to become the most hmous artificial forest in the Dominion and will require a special railway line |c convey the timber output to market. From time immemorial the Kaingaroa •rairie has been claimed and used for fcd-hunting by numerous aboriginal tribes bearing the euphonious names ot Te Kawerau, Xgaiw-i, Te Aruhetawiri, Hgararauhemamae Te Heke-o-Maruiwi, Te-Raupongaoheobe (tbe waving bulrushes) Te Tururumouku, etc., but they were inoffensive people, and when twelve or thirteen generations ago the more strenuous warlike diecendants of those who arrived in the great canoes came from northward under the leadership of two warriors. Manawa Kotpkoto and bis nephew Wkarepakau. the original dwellers were destroyed or driven elsewhere towards the south and the whole of this vast territory became the property of the two small tribes, NgatiBUJiawa and Ngatiwhare, who through relationship with the Arawa and Urewera tribes became a buffer. This country they were still holding at the execution of the Treaty of Waitangi and when the Maori King was set up in 1860, Ngatimanawa joined the loyal Arawa and the others went into rebellion. The Ngatimanawa became conspicuous on account of their singlehearted devotion to the Crown, fighting against their near relatives and, though never able to place more than half a hundred men in the field, many of the women bore guns with good fleet. They ! did such fine service scouting and fighting and were always in the advance, so * they were named '"Hair's Forty * Thieves." I was authorised to pay them a bonus of 2/ per diem on the quiet. In 1820. a tana toto (a blood party), under the renowned Hauraki chief Tuterangianini, passed southward over f it, intending to attack some of t the tribes further on. but the a outlook was discouraging. and on i viewing the abnormally large cab- > htge free, which are said to have been i planted by Ngatoroirangi to show ] ilia two sisteTs how far he could iump, i Tuterangianini named the largest one i efter an hereditary enemy, cursed it and ordered his warriors to chop it down, then resumed his march homeward quite mtisfied with this proof of his prowess. The second tree, though not so large, was such a prominent object on the great level expanse, that when riding OT walking it took an interminable time . to pass it, hence the travellers averred j that it really moved along abreast with them. There are many names connecting this plain with Xgatoroirangi's famous vestal sisters, Kuiwai and Haungaroa. such »s Te Wairapukao. where the women searched all night for their lost kit of Kao..- (preserved kumara). Te Punatakaki, where Xgatoroirangi caused a spring to burst forth to save bis fainting sisters aforesaid, like Moses and the rock. - When walking over Kaingaroa for tbe first time in 1866 I turned off to view tbe •tump of the tree destroyed by Tuter «ngianini forty-six years previously.! There was a solid rim of green bank ■bout lift across, with small trees growing out of it at intervals. The companion tree was cut down, by the men •Bgaged surveying the block in the seventies. Looking southward as you travel •long the Rotorua-Murupara Road'thcre i» a mound just to the rignt of the 33 ! teile peg named "Te Upoko-o-Po" (The 'Head of the Xighti. It was densely covered by convolvulus, and wild* pigs were always found there in consequence. When viewed from the north fifteen ■ales away it loomed up like a mountain. Jet it was only twelve or fifteen feet •bore the surrounding level. When I frit travelled over Kaingaroa it was deep in Karetu, the native vernal (Hiroeloe redolens), and other valuable feel! frawes; you could not find a switch toj *liip your horse. But constant burning j •f has depreciated the soil seriously, •nd now it is covered with titree and fcacophyUum only. •THE CESSION" OF KAINGAROA. Of all the striking episodes in which I have had the good fortune to participate during a long and strenuous life the j buying of Kaingaroa stands out in al stronger light than any other of my •mcial acts. I la 1877, the Government having exPressed a wish to purchase Kaingaroa, J I was authorised to carry out the stir-1 T ey, which was done accordingly. The | Paramount chief of the Xgati-Manawa. I Peraniko Tahawai, guided the surveyor | •Id myself round the boundaries. Tn ! J879 the block, estimated to contain ': 120,000 acres, was brought before the j Native Land Court, when in spite of! Wtter opposition from neighbouring: tribes it was filially awarded to the . "glti-Manawa. but before I could carry, SJ» the purchase I was appointed Land Purchase Officer at Whanganui. j The affection of my noble and devoted Wa friend Peraniko for mc was quite a P»thetic obsession. Though over 70 he Wsistcd on accompanying mc on all my "uh'tary expeditions, and the moment his Wick eye noted suspicious signs of the enemy's vicinity he would spring in front ■id smilingly whisper, "Xo bullet shall JjjHn my tamaiti without passing "tough my own body first." His good •« wife Ruihi was equally devoted, and * w o of their children had' been baptised « Jlea and Riripeti (Elizabeth) after a ? parents. It was a sad parting when I left for •By new sphere of action, as the dear old ™ef seemed to b? dying of tuberculosis. v ery soon most pathetic messages kept •rriving from the tribe imploring mc to ■jaten back, while his son-in-law Ware"Si actually travelled to "Wanganui to

persuade mc to return. He afterwards adopted the name of "Ngawaea" (trie telegrams), but I had nine survey parties out in the field whom it was impossible to leave, and finally news came of Peraniko's death. I was notified by his people Slat all funeral ceremonies bad been postponed until I. could return, and so it came about that my faithful old friend hai lain in his grave a year and eleven.' months ere 1 was free. I immediately informed the Ngati-Manawa tribe that I would reach Galatea on a certain day,; bearing with mc the purchase money for Kaingaroa, about £15,000.. As requested, they sent mc my pet orderly, Pani Ahuriri, to meet ine at Tauranga, My honoured friend, the late Judge Brabant, had arranged that the payment waa to be made in cash, mainly Bank of New Zealand 'books of 100 single notes, and some larger de- ; nominations. Owing to leakage it became known in Tauranga, where there happened to be some -undesirable characters, that I was leaving with th'i3 large sum and the police warned mc of the rfck. My Maori lad had his calisher and Terry carbine and a revolver, while I carried two heavy Dean and Adams. On reaching Mak'etu the landlord, Duncan Robertson, informed mc that three suspicious characters had spent the night there and had been inquiring which road I generally travelled when going to Galatea. So I changed my route and followed the old war trail via Kaiw-hatiwbati. Several days afterwards the natives reported having i found where these ruffians had been camping in the thick scrub overlooking the narrow crossing of the Pokairoa River, evidently waiting for mc. 1 carried the money in a heavy satchel. On the appointed morning a mounted escort met us at Xgatamawahine River, i informing mc that several thousand natives had assembled and I was to be accorded a reception quite unique in modern times, which somewhat aroused my curiosity, but they would not enlighten mc further than that NgatiManawa had determined to make tho function memorable on account of my regard for their old chief. As we approached Galatea the scene reminded mc of a new goldfield rush;] the place was embowered in greenery, j : flags everywhere: over a hundred tents j I and marquees lining both sides of the i j marae. with the fine carved house I "Tangiharuru" at the end of the j square.. Our horses having been taken. we advanced with t':c escort, usheredin by the firing of volleys, hundreds of i women waving the white plumes of the ' | ka-kaho and crying out the anc ; ent wel- j j come |!Haria mai te aroha", etc.; ! (Bring hither the love.) '. I Tn front of the house knelt the dif- ] I ferent tribal phalanxes of stripped armeel men. who sprang toi I their feet in rotation and performed the i '! weird thrilling peruperus f war-dances),' j finally coalescing in a V>dy of 80fl men J ;in one grand finale. Then the hrart-1 \ I moving strains of the "Tangi" burst i i forth from over three thousand voces. \ i THE RESURRECTION" OF PERANIKO , j TAHAWAI. ': I Lifting up my eyes to the front of | ' the carved house imagine my fceling-i j !• on being confronted with my deceased ! " ! friend Peraniko, who had been ex- , 1 humed from the grave wherein he had | laid for two years. The body had been |! carefully washed: bis jet black hair, i J which had grown very long, oiled and s 1 ornamented with rare plumes of the r ! huia and white crane. He was seated j ! on a high structure plentifully adorned ; with choice mats, while his cold hand t I still grasped the family talisman, a I erreenstone mere. Death had wrought r! no change, nor -was there the slightest I odour. He had always been remark--1 able during life for his high complexion, I rivalling that of a half-caste, and it r still appeared perfectly natural, except for slight dark rings under the eyes. r which were closed as though in sleep. ,1 \t his feet was the faithful widow .. bowed in an agony of grief, and the t children. o Hatleee and with oowed head I stood >- for nearly three hours, deeply moved by o the affecting atraina of the "tangi."

Some of the visitors, less closely re , 8 lated, had resumed their seats and low { c sympathetic murmurs reached my ears: , I 'Kati ra. Kua ea te mate o to matua -• ka mate koe." ("Cease to mourn, the 1 sorrow for your parent has been assuaged", etc., etc.) According to Maori i etiquette I had to assume indignat'.on I at these interruptions and speaking t sternly I replied:—"Who are you that I you should dare to measure my tears j for my parent?" ' I then went forward and pressed' < noses affectionately with- the widow 1 and the fatherless ones and hung the - leather satchel with the £15,000 about < her neck, which she retained until it was required for distribution. Mats < were laid in the marac and a seat where « 1 sat and listened to numberless elo- I qucnt speechea from notaible Maori * orators, wherein the virtues of my de- t ceased chief were extolled, aWo 4ns I great love for mc: that his "mana [ was so great that for a long time he i had kept the King of Terrors at bay iv I tbe hope of seeing mc again in the t flc*h, but as that was not to be, his 1 body had been miraculously preserved, t as all present could testify, concluding i with the words, "Surely this should lessen your sorrow." ; ""hen" followed a feast on a gargantuan scale. Tangaroa, the Polynesian Neptune, had been placed under heavy , contributions, and all Ms . to the marae. The Rang.ta.k. S I had given forth its famous eels in great Jrofusion. and Tanemadiuta, the Forest God. had unstint.ngly yielded the feathered creatures of his domain A number of European traders ***™V* marquees full of delicacies of all kinds sTk blouses and other treasures to tempt the female vanity. U the conclusion of the feasts, bak-as and dances were carried on till midnight then T was invited to oin a small party of elders and we carried my old trieiia .way and buried him await final interment on thei sacred mountain Tawhiuau. Tbe toiiowing morning I read over the deed of cession TvolaTnlng at great lengths itsiinw* .SeSl Reminded the tribe of the of Ka-inga-roa (the long ondiirin" home), whereas if they «c Sted the moneY I had brought it would henceforth be called Kainga-poto the Sdy vanishing wealth). This saying. o'mile has -«f BafoTwenlr all large land sales in the Bay of Plcn-v. To facilitate the sale, although the land had been awarded to 120 persons it was mutually agreed in open court that only 29 representative persons should oe ea^^ati^ ilSfe"* fltAly urged them, "o make adequate reserves, and eventually 1700 acres and three small totara j hushes were cut out. and it .s on one I o"these that the carved house and largest i village now stand. . I A. select committee was occupied two days and nights preparing a scheme of division of the money, there being no less than eight ancestors who originally ' Maimed the land. Tbe list was read out from time to time till on the third d,y f ro °Tent was unanimous and it was nailed on front of Tangiharuru. Elinor lists "re made for the distribution under each of the 29 representatives and | ! the apportionment of a thousand pounds , I for the visitors. ! THE GRATITUDE OF THE MAORI. I Mv friend, Henry Mitchell, the surI vevo'r, and Captain" Way, J.P-, were in 1 attendance, one to mark out the reserves, I the other to attest the signatures and ' nayment. We three were seated in the marae watching the division of the money when two of Peramkos children came forward bearing three split sticks, one with a book containing 100 single bank notes, which was stuck m the oround before mc, the others containing £50 each, were given to my two companions. It devolved upon mt i toact and after discussion with Mr. Mitchell, ' who was well acquainted with Maori custom I took a single note from each parcel, and waving these high exclaimed: •"•You tell us these gifts represent the tears we have shed for our parent Peraniko. I say 'Xo.' Our tears are not purchasable. They have already been poured out to fertilise the lands of your

ancestors which have this day passed for ever to the Queen that jt may in future I bring forth its fruits in great abundance. As for this money, I have held it in my hands fast, I have consumed it, it now rests, in Te Poho-nui-a-Toi (the great stomach of Toi). I then took the money back which was returned again and again, till I closed tbe incident by going for a walk. I gave each of my companions a single pound, but the attesting officer looked rather disgusted and' considered-1 had.paid far too much Importance to native etiquette, but the Maori esteemed one all the more for so doing. After the purchase money was finally distributed, every owner came singly or in family groups bringing gifts of money. For instance, Peraniko's brother, Rawiri, | and his large family were grieved almost i to anger because I positively refused | their gift of £120 brought to my bed- j side at midnight, their excuse for com-1 ing at such an inopportune hour was j tnat they were (whakama) ashamed of the smailncss of the token, and feared lest the others would hear of their | niggardliness. The total offered gifts must have exceeded £600. T mention these incidents to disprove the oft repeated statement made by ignorant Europeans that the Maori has no such ; thing as gratitude, nor any word repreI scnting thanks. Quite a mistake, for I when giving a Maori a present he shows his appreciation by his countenance, re- | peating little, not "unmusical, grunts and sounds, muttering:—"E toku ariki, nui , atu toku, whakawhetai ki akoc. Kia Ora j Koe," etc. (O, my lord, great is my aroha for you, may you live forever,, etc.) : Then again the Maoris are accused of want of constancy — another mistake, for during my long life among them I have seen many instances of the most tender affection existing between married couples. Quite frequently if one died tbe survivor never re-married. The last and most touching instance of never dying love was. shown by the dear old widow Ruihi. For eleven long years, regardless of weather, she came every morning from the little village at Awangarara to weep over her husband's grave, and when the tribe removed to their present Kaluga she remained near by the grave till death claimed her. ' Of the thousands of natives then present, probably barely a hundred are still 1 living, and of the many Europeans who were with mc, only two, Mr. William Bird, of Galatea, and Mr. Joe McCrae, of Taneatua, remain. 1 have jiist received letters from each corroborating the above historic incident.