A LEGEND OF'TUHUA.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 76, 29 March 1924, Page 17

A LEGEND OF'TUHUA.

HOW THE DOGS CAPTURED

MAYOR ISLAND.

By the late CAPTAIN GILBERT JIAIR.

About twenty-five years ago the Tauranga County Council, being short of revenue, determined to make the Maoris pay dog tax, and stringent measures were taken to administer the law. Burly Constable Tom Whelan served notifies on all the Katikati natives, but being adherents of the Maori King so-called, and having already registered their dogs with Mahuta's registrar, they declined to pay a second tax. Whereupon they were warned that failing payment by a given date specially authorised officials would visit their settlements and shoot the animals on sight. Consternation reigned in the several villages, and after a great "korero" it was decided to maroon their pets on Tuhua (Mayor Island). At that time about thirty aged Maoris were living there, the remnants of Ngaitauwhao, Te Urungawera, Te Papaunahi and Ngatiwhitikiore, who once jointly formed a powerful confederation. The total amount of tax due was about £13. Arrangements were come to with Mr. Alfred Faulkner to land the dogs on Tuhua, without consulting the residents, seventeen pounds being the amount payable for the service. The dogs, some 150 in number were collected and embarked on Faulkner's cutter the Qi. Alf, accompanied by a small boy, battened down the hatches on his canine cargo and sailed from Boy. entown on the even ebb, numerous old women weeping by the sad sea shore; for Maoris have a deep sentimental love for their pets, notwithstanding which the life of a Maori dog is hardly one of Arcadian happiness. The captain humorously described to mc the howling of the imprisoned dogs below, which at last degenerated into a canine Donnybrook, in all relationships, sexea and, gizes

were set at naught, till he began to wonder if any would live through the night. But once over the bar a head wind and heavy sea were met, the result being that all animosities were forgotten in the agonies of mal der mer. It was not till near dark that the Qi approached the island, but as wind and sea were increasing the captain, instead of making a landing at Apou Bay and delivering his consignment note in due form, jettisoned his cargo, and, like the wicked Sir Ralph the Rover, "sailed away and scoured the sea"—to Katikati, leaving the unfortunate animals to make the land as best they could At day dawn the peaceful dwellers of Mayor Island were aroused from sleep by the howling and barking of do<»s but high above the din was heard tie squealing of many porkers. Thinking there had been an irruption of pakeha hunters after the animal that pays the nnt, they were soon confronted by a pack of wolfish, hungry dogs of every known variety and cross, whose appearance so alarmed them that they fled precipitately to the pa, leaving their tame pigs to be devoured. The satiated dogs gave no further trouble for a day or two, ihe s aU the fowls were eaten

while the wildest immediately laid heavy toll on the numerous Captain Cookers which infested the more broken portions of the island. The tamer dogs lingered about the villages till the pangs of hunger developed the long-forgotten frugivorous instincts, and the old Maoris saw their small crop of green maize kumara, potatoes and melons rapidly disappearing. During this time lear of the ravenning dogs virtually kept them confined to their kainga, and a prolonged korero was held, at which every theory was advanced to account for the sudden and totally unexpected visitation of canis domesticus. At last, the youngest member of the tribe, a woman, who had made several trips to Auckland in one of Captain Skinner's vessels, stated that on her last visit she had been taken by a friend one evening to the largest building in the city, where c waru mano (8000) dogs were being exhibited, also that she was informed that the function was an annual one, dogs being sent from all parts of the Dominion, as well as Australia. She believed, therefore, that a steamer from the South with a cargo of prize animals for exhibition must have met with, shipwreck during the recent

stormy weather on Tuhua's rock-bound coast; therefore an effort should be made to ascertain where the wreck had occurred, and whether there were any survivors. The only boat was launched and the island circumnavigated, but no traces were discovered, and the mystery remained unsolved, though Tangirau, an aged man who had spent half his life time on a whaler ship and knew English well, mentioned that he had heard Europeans make frequent use of a "whakatauki," or proverb a >ut "raining cats and dogs," but as cats were missing in the present case there could be no application of the proverb.

As time went on the position of affairs for both the Maoris and dogs became worse, and eventually the whole of the residents were removed to Bowentown, Katikati. Left entirely to their own resources the dogs eked out a precarious existence while wild pig 3 could be caught, and the seabirds happened to be nesting, and in a short while classic Ttthua was left uninhabited, in which state it has remained ever since, with the exception of spasmodic visits of fishermen and picknickers. The island is now owned by Mr. William Edwards, a native ra.nga.tira, who is residing at Tuhua. *. "_-- -°