BIG CHIEF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 225, 23 September 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

BIG CHIEF.

Adjacent to tlic kauri forest land miles up north, there grew once, so it is said, a lone kauri tree of ancient birth. Its size was immense, both height and breadth, and its age no one had ever told.

On the flat below it there was also once a Maori village, and the natives who inhabited it held the ancient tree in vaguo esteem, and watched it with eyes of suspicion, for they believed that Tane Mahuta, the forest god, had put it there for some reason; thus they held it sacred. A fence had been erected around it for proteetio'n, and within this an old native chief of some standing had been buried. The Maoris called the tree "Big Chief," and 011 occasions, when important events were likely to occur, they made offerings to it and muttered weird incantations.

It is true t-liat whenever a storm was predicted to pass over the sea and turn inland the wind moaned strangely in the old tree's boughs for days ahead. On a sunny day a thrush fluttered into the branches. "Good morning, Big Chief," she said. "Good morning, little bird," answered the tree. "Why are you so, joyful?" "I am nest-hunting again," she replied. "That always makes me happy. How very sweet the dew is 011 your leaves this morning, Big Chief." "1 am so glad you find it so," answered Big Chief. 'After tli© thrush had flown off, came the wind from the hills. The wind from the hills was in a jolly mood. "Hullo!'' he called in a rollicking tone even when he was yards away. "Good morning," returned the tree. "I thought —I felt almost sure I heard you sigh," said the wind. "You did," ' came tue reply. "I am getting very old. I fear." "Ha, ha," laughed the wind jocularly. "But you've been of age ever since I've haunted these hills. What has come over you to-dav?" "Ah, but it is true," said the Big Chief. "I feel age upon me. The time will shortly come when I am to die." The wind had come to rest in the branches and was whispering a sober song. "If there anything I can do for you. Big Chief?" "If you would only fly up to my topmost branches," commanded the tree. "There used to be a young cone up there, but the twigs about are dry, so 1 cannot feel as I used to."

"I can see it from here," said the wind, twisting itself upward. It flew to 'the highest branches, and speaking from above, said, "There-is one up here, but it is rather crinkled up. There is only one seed that 1 can sec."

"If it would not be too difficult, could you take it and drop it on the ground beneath me?" said the Big Chief. So the wind dropped the, seed to earth and swept a covering of loose soil over it. "If I could be sure it would grow, I could rest in peace," sighed the Big Chief. "My seeds have blown always too far afield, so that some fate has surely overcome them." The wind went on its journey, and the Big Chief stood as silently as ever. Then one by one, and day by day, a leaf or two at a time, they shrivelled and crumpled and fell to tfye earth. That was the end of the proud giant. The natives were not particularly surprised, though they mourned its death, feeling it was their duty, fearing the god of the forest would reprove them in some way. The spring following a new kauri sprang up. Tlio Maoris were delighted, declaring it was a son of the Big Chief, and had been sent to keep his vigil. For a time it flourished; 'but quite suddenly it made a mysterious disappearance, which was beyond everybody's understanding, for no trace liad been left on the ground to mark its removal, and it was certain that it had not died. Stiange superstition overcame the Maoris after that. Even the birds at night made sounds that came to their oars as strange and awe-inspiring. So one day, without ceremony, they removed their belongings and were not again heard of in that part. Up north, in the kauri-growing land, a tree there is, or a tree there was, ot which only the giant butt remains. Age. too, is beginning to crumble this away. There is a strong fence surrounding it. and this is all to mark the borne and the oravo as well, of a kauri king- the Big Chief. On sunny days a wind from the hills came down to whisper over the strange spot a silent requiem.

FOOD ! {Copied by Irone Skinner, Victoria Street, Waihi, use 11.) How would you like to be a whale? You and I liave to eat about 1011) of food to make lib of flesh and blood. A sperm whale, in order £o build up its 30-ton body, has to eat 800 tons of octopus. Now these octopuses have had to cat SOOO tons of' such molluscs as oysters or whelks to build up their bodies. The molluscs in their turn had accounted for 80,000 tons of sea-worms, and these, to make up tlicir weight of jivinn- material, must have eaten 800,000 tons°of tiny living things that swarm in the sea-ooze. GUESS THESE. (Sent in by Phyllis Turner, Portage Road, New 5.W.4; age 13.) When does a chair dislike you? —When it can't bear you. . When is a tradesman above his business? —When he lives over the shop. Why is the letter "t" like an island?— Because it is in the middle of water. What man has the biggest appetite? — He who bolts the door and swallows a tall story. When is a schoolboy like a postage stamp? —When lie's been licked,and put in a corner to make him stick to his letters. NEW EXCUSE. (Sent in by Ken Koycroft, Kimberley Road, Wailii.) Dr. Jolliboy was examining the boys' copv books. . "Disgraceful!" lie said, on coming to Fatty. "What excuse have you this time—new pen ?" "No, sir," replied Fatty. "New ink, I suppose?" suggested the doctor. "No, sir," said Fatty. "What, then?" asked Dr. Jolliboy. "Neuralgia!" replied Fatty, at "which the other boys laughed heartily. FIND THE VEGETABLES. The trampers found an old car rotting at the bottom of a deep ravine: Carrot. Can you spin a chair with one hand?: Spinach. The audience watched, spellbound, while a knife seemed to sever the conjurer's head from his shoulders: Leak. The mountaineer slowly let out the rope as his companion descended the treacherous crevass: Peas.