GREENSTONE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18626, 26 February 1926, Page 6

GREENSTONE.

■A MAORI LEGEND. EXPEDITION ACROSS THE ALPS

In the days before the advent of the white man the greenstone of the West Coast caused. much bloodshed in. the tribes of the Ngataihu, and many expeditions crossed the wild passes of the Alps. They crossed over via Arthur's Pass and returned to Canterbury via the Whiteombe, for the following reason: In going down the Otira Gorge they had to swim three deep pools, and it was only in fine weather that it was possible to swim through tliem. They were not under any circumstances to be stemmed when each Maori had sixty to seventy pounds of greenstone on his. back. Hence they returned by the Whiteombe, which, although a longer route, was easily crossed, and abounded with game. The last time the Kaiapoi Maoris made use of the Passes was a few years before- the Europeans arrived, when the North Island Natives invaded the South Island, fighting and eating all their enemies. The young men. of the. tribe were all away on the West . Coast searching for greenstone, and they were hurriedly recalled. The messengers sent up tho Bakaia Valley met them at Whiteombe's Pass. The precious greenstone was instantly abandoned, and the expedition hurried home. When the enemy did arrive, they march- ■ ed in triumphantly, but were slaughtered alnufst to a man.

Precious Whaipu. According to Maori legend, when Ngahue, pursued by the vengeful Hine-he-a-hoanga, fled from the ancient homo of the Maori race, Hawaiki, he took'with him his precious stone whaipu (green jasper). Seeking a place where he and his jasper stone might be safe, he found in the sea this island. Aotearoa (the northern island of New Zealand), and he thought he would land there. Then he thought again, lest he and his enemy should be too close to one another, and should quarrel again, that it would be better for him to go farther off with his jasper, a very long way off. So he carried it off, and at length arrived at Arahura (on the west coast of the middle island), and he made that an everlasting restingplace for his jasper. To this day Arahura 13 the largest Native settlement on the West Coast, and the Maoris there keep in close touch with those in Canterbury. Many ancient customs aro still kept "up, and the tribal laws are both comprehensive and interesting. A great part of the town of Greymouth is Native land — a reserve for fishing—and the Arahura Maoris draw the rents.