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Press, Volume LX, Issue 18185, 23 September 1924, Page 13

The ground on which the New Plymouth cenotaph stands is a very historical soot, and it is fitting that such a site should have been selected (states the 'Taranaki News")- It was known formerly as Mount Eliot, and in the earlv sUrfrboat days of New Plymouth, it was a signal station. In later years the hill was removed to provide level ground for the extension of the town and the building of the railway. Previous to the days of settlement in New Plymouth there was a largo Maori palisaded fighting na situated on tho top of this hili. It was known as PukeAriki. Larpe numbers of Natives lived there, and aii the lands around the hill were used for cultivating kumcras, taro, and such crops. In about tho year 1832, Puke-Ariki Pa was finally abandoned bv the Natives when they removed to O'taka or Nga Motu Pa, now occupied by the freezing works near the breakwater. 'Hie Taraaaki Natives abandoned this ancient pa when one of the big raids by the Waikato Natives was threatened. In the bygone days tho Maoris believed that the excellent crops of kumcras obtained were duo to the mana (prestige) of their god Rongo, with whom tho priests of old interceded for a bounteous season. Stone representations of the god Rongo were fairly common in Taranaki, and at planting time these were often buried in the plot to assure speedy growth and a heavy crop. One of tie most noted of these carved kurqera gods was found while excavations were being carried out by Europeans at Puke-Ariki Pa. It has. been claimed that this 6tone was brought to New Zealand by the Maoris in ono of their canoes of the migration in tho year 1350 or thereabotits. The stone waa fenfc to the Nelson Museum, and from it a cast has been secured, which may bo gcen at the museum in New Plymouth.