EARLY MAUNGAWHAU.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 85, 11 April 1927, Page 12

EARLY MAUNGAWHAU.

! A MAORI STRONGHOLD. J KEY OF THE ISTHMUS ; interesting histoky recalled. Although the volcanic history of Mount Eden, or Maungawhau as the early natives called it. must remain a matter of speculation, it is known that for I centuries it has been a stronghold for the natives, the key of the isthmus in the days of inter-tribal warfare. At the ollieial opening of the new kiosk on the slope of the mountain on Saturday. Mr. ti. L. Taylor, the chair man of the Parks Committee of the Mount Eden Borough Council, said that the hill had been inhabited by various tribes since tlie beginning of the Christian era. He added that there were native records to show that about Oli A.IX, a people called the Maruiwi, arrived from Eastern Polynesia, and occupied Mount Eden, and the surrounding isthmus for the following thousand years. In 1150 came an invasion by tribes from Tahiti and Rarotonga, who in turn were dispossessed by another invasion—the tribes that came to New Zealand by the famous Tuimii. Arawa and Matatua canoes. The descendants of these immigrants held Mount Eden for the following r>oo years, right up to the time of the advent of the Europeans. Mr. Taylor referred to the old fortifications on the mountain, the remains of which could still be seen, and said that many years ago Mount Eden was covered with earthworks and high pallisades. behind which big .stores of provisions were kept in case of siege. The large pits, still in evidence, were the plact s where food was stored. One of the methods of warfare Mas to roll large rocks down the slopes upon an advancing enemv.

Surveyors' Landmark. The Mayor of Mount Eden (Mr. E. If. Potter) said that in the early days of European settlement, the top of the hill had served a very useful purpose, as it was used as a station for triangulation and general survey. Every peg that had been put in the ground from the North Cape to Tauniarunui had its exact position calculated from Mount Eden. Mr. Potter added that a direction talile. the gift of Mr. Ernest Davis, was expected to arrive within the next few weeks, and would be installed upon the summit. It would lie of great interest both to Auckland residents and visitors. He made a strong plea for the preservation of the other volcanic cones on the isthmus, and urged the various local bodies to do everything possible to preserve them. Mr. Potter said that Mr. O. Nicholson had taken a prominent part in preserving Mount Eden, and had also assisted financially, while Sir Edwin Mitchelson and others had made gifts of shrubs and trees.

Mr. V. H. Potter. M.P. for Roskill. congratulated the Mount Eden Borough Council on the steps that had heen taken to beautify and improve Mount Eden.