FOR THE LITTLE ONES

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

FOR THE LITTLE ONES

HOLIDAY TIME IN MAORICAND. AMUSEMENTS FOR YOUNG AND OLD. My Dear Little Friends,—— Living to-day in New Zealand is very different to what it was a couple of hundred years ago. The pakeha boy or girl has been taught to read and can spend wet days or dark evenings indoors with a book. Picture theatres may be attended to fill in spare time, whilst there are cricket, football and tennis to play during the holidays. Have you ever wondered how the old-time Maoris filled in the dark evenings and stormy days when they could not venture outside their pas? As all who have heard Maori choirs will agree, the native of New Zealand possesses a splendid voice, and in days of old singing played a part in most Maori amusements. In the whare-tapere, or meeting house, much entertainment was given by the poi dancers, who would chant softly as they twirled raupo balls cleverly on long cords. The men folk got great enjoyment from their hakas, just as boy scouts and wolf cubs to-day enjoy their camp fire yells and cries. Maoris were very much like boys and girls in that they loved to listen to stories, and would remain quiet for hours whilst the older folk of the tribe told tales of fairies and of daring deeds performed long, long ago. Greatly treasured, these stories were handed from father to son v and so were remembered for hundreds of years. Top spinning was a favourite game of the Maoris. The tops were monsters, eight or ten inches high, usually being carved from wood, but quite often being fashioned from hard, black stone. Whipping the tops along a half-mile track leading through tea-tree scrub was no easy task, but the Maori would compete to see who could whip his top along the greatest distance. Great excitement was caused by the fighting tops. Two men would whip their tops against each other to see which top could stand the hardest blow. Sometimes the battle would end with both tops being knocked over, and at the close of the contest the spinners were always hot and breathless after their exertions. "Propeller" need not think that he was the first to introduce model gliders to New Zealand, for the Maoris had glider toys that gave them a Seat deal of amusement. To the stems of broad leaves they attached irass stalks, and with these they assembled on some high point. When the models were launched into the air there was great excitement to see which would glide the furthest.

Of all the games played by the ancient Maori, the mqrere is the nr** the r eives ; nto the SSM° could swing highest. When there was deep water near rt£ players would sometimes swmg out, then let go the rope to splash into the water from a good height. Some of the ancient games of the _**■»'» Maori are still played, but, just as he y7\ s^'Vf^tAw*'*"''' has adopted the dress of the pakeha, so has the Maori copied his amuse- V^ Jj ments, and so many of the old games VV™^*^*^ have been played for the last time. *^