PURE-BLOODED MAORIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 7

PURE-BLOODED MAORIS.

MANY IN DOMINION.

LIFE IN PRIMITIVE PAS. ANCIENT TRIBAL HABITS. There appears to be an impression among many people not in close touch with the Maoris that the pure-blooded I native lias practically disappeared in New Zealand. This impression has probably arisen from the fairly considerable number of people in the Dominion who are half or quarter-castes, or have Maori blood in their veins. The impression is correct in so far as it. applies to the Maori in or near town areas, but in the country, particularly in some districts, the natives are full-blooded and ae dark ae ever t'l-.-y were. In many eases they are living somewhat primitively, fashioning their own tools anil weapons, weaving their mats and some articles of clothing, and fishing and hunting. An Aucklandcr who has been in close touch with the Maoris in several districts, states that in Waiiuiha there arc between two and three hundred natives living in a large square pa, and most of them are fall-bloodeJ. Further back behind the pa there are about .'IOjOOO acres of virgin and untouched bushland ! in which they hunt w<; 1 ,tnd cattle for their food. He states that about six years ago the natives in the district commenced work on carving a large wooden monument about 15 feet high, and it should soon be completed. The carving hue been done by not more than two or three of the best carvers among , them. At Tβ Teko, in the Bay of Plenty, practically all of the Maoris are fullblooded. They are particularly darkskinned and live by flsh'iij.' on the shores of Lake .Taupe and in the river. Their "king" in Una, who holt's sway over all the Ureweri*. country. Mi ni Rites Observed. Ai about 30 miles south of New Plymouth, there are large numbers of .full-blooded Maoris as well as Maoripakehas. Many of the full-blooded natives are descendants of the famous

Kahui family. Here many old Maori rites are observed, chief among which are the monthly celebrations in honour of the prophets, Te Whiti and Tohu. They observe a Sunday once a month. Te Whiti's followers celebrate their Sunday on the 18th day of the month, when white feathers are worn in the hair. Tohu'e followers celebrate on the following day. Their celebrations take place at the local pa or Maori village, \yhich is still intact, with raupo huts, meeting houses, etc. Every three months Te Whiti's and Tohu's followers combine in a welcome feast for the pakehas of the district, who arc at liberty to patronise the house of either prophet. Poi dances and hakas are always a feature of these gatherings. Skilful Maori Carver.

At Waitara, in North Taranaki, there is an old pa or Maori stronghold, where the members of a family of about two dozen Maoris, all full-blooded, arc living in a primitive state. Hero a young Maori carver, Taiiti, carries on the art of his forefathers, and earns a. living by selling his work. Mr. Hebberley. of the staff of the Dominion Museum, considers this young Maori carver equal to the best in New Zealand to-day. Several of his best carvings have been sold abroad.

In certain isolated districts near the Waitara River there arc large families of Maoris, practically all of them fullnative, living under most primitive conditions. They are direct descendants of the Te Atiawa tribe. Others, also fullblooded, are engaged in dairy farming in this district. There is a picturesque old Maori who is often to be seen fishing on the banks of the river. He is Tami Kaingaru, known far and wide as Tommy Kangaroo. He has lived for years by catching herring in the river and selling them in the township, and he is reputed to be fairly wealthy. All the natives along the banks of the river are fishermen, and it is a common sight in mid-autumn, when the fishing season is over, to see long lines of herrings liung up to dry to provide them with food for the winter.

To Kuiti, the •headquarters of the Maniapoto tribe, is another centre where there, is a large percentage of fullblooded Maorie. At Kawhia, on the West Coast of the 'Auckland province, practically all the Maoris are fullblooded, and at one pa there is a. large .%imily of ginger-haired Maoris, who live

primitively and exist mostly on kumara, fish and wild pig. Finally, the "Star's" informant recalls that in one place in Taranaki, on occasions of Maori meetings, when the night is cold, the Maoris come from their pas and stamp their feet rhythmically on the ground for two or three hour's to make themselves warm. He says that the tramping can be heard for miles around, due to the fact that the air, in the vicinity of Mount Egmont, is very clear.