MAORI HISTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1933, Page 13

MAORI HISTORY.

BAY OF PLENTY INTEREST. RECONSTRUCTION" OF PA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WHAKATANE, Friday. | There was a large attendance of enthusiasts at a meeting of the Bay of Plenty Maori Historical Research Society. A letter was received from the chief chemist of the Agricultural Department, expressing keen interest in the society's investigation of the peculiar nature of an earth plot at Matirirau, past Toroa pa. Although he was sceptical of the probability of this earth having been imported, from Hawaiki, he would accept a sample for analysis, and if it were of a foreign nature, he would submit the analysis to an authority on the soilforming minerals of the Pacific Islands. Dr. Wadmore suggested that the society should endeavour to have erected at the entrance to the Whakatane children's playing area some appropriate gateway, either of Maori style, or similar to the trilithon at Tongatabu—an erection of three large coral stones in gateway form. A structure, built on the lines of the Tongan trilithon, would serve as a connecting link between Whakatane and Polynesia, whence come the former settlers of this district. Dr. Wadmore was asked to elaborate his scheme, which included the provision of an historical direction table.

The secretary referred to a suggestion by Dr. Appleby, that the society should endeavour to reconstruct a Maori pa on the historic hills backing on Whakatane. It was agreed that such a work would be a worthy one to pursue, so soon as the society was in a position to carry it out. The historic Kapu-to Rangi pa was suggested as the most desirable site. It was resolved to enlist tho support of tlie Minister of Native Affairs.