AS ANCIENT TAPU

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21449, 15 April 1935, Page 10

AS ANCIENT TAPU

TE KOGTI'S ESCAPE RECALLED RECENT TRAGEDY AT CHATHAM ISLANDS Does an ancient tapu, laid by the rebel Maori chief, Te Kooti, when he and other Maori prisoners made their daring escape from the Chatham Islands 67 years ago, still hold? Maoris at the Chatham Islands and many of mixed blood claim that the tapu exists, and some do not hesitate to attribute the recent drowning tragedy at Waitangi, in which two natives lost their lives, to the powers of the tapu. it was on July 4, IBGB, that Te Kooti made his escape. The prisoners first seized the small sailing cutter Florence, which was anchored close inshore at Waitangi. In their haste the Maoris slipped the cable and anchor qf the Florence, and it is said that Te Kooti put a tapu on them. In the Florence the Maoris reached the schooner Rifleman, which was anchored further out in Waitangi Bay, and the story of the seizure of this vessel and the voyage to New Zealand, where Te Kooti landed near Gisborne, is now history. The Florence was set adrift and was wrecked at Waitangi. Anchor Recovered A few years ago the steamer Tees, while working at Waitangi, picked up with her anchor an old anchor which the Chatham Islanders declared to be that of the Florence. The captain of the Tees desired to take it away to present to the Canterbury Museum, but this proposal met with much opposition on the part of the islanders. He was warned that the anchor was tapu, and was told of dire happenings that would surely befall him or his ship if he offended against the law of tapu. So earnest were they that the captain abandoned his project of taking the anchor to Lyttelton, and left it on the old boat-jetty.

Later the anchor was recommitted to the sea, near its former position, but this time a cable was made fast to it, and it was used as a mooring for the motor surf boat which acted as a lender to the Tees.

Surf Boat Lost

It was this boat which, on April 7 last, was blown from its moorings in a 'terrific gale, and despite attempts at rescue, was lost, its two occupants, Don Daymond and Don Reriti, being drowned. The gale which started to blow on April 6, was one of the heaviest experienced at the islands. The following morning the two men, who usually worked the surf-boat, noticed that it was dragging its moorings and they went out to it in a dinghy. They got the engine started, but shortly afterwards those on shore saw that the engine had stopped. One of the men was seen waving a petrol tin, indicating that they had run out of petrol. The boat was then being carried out into the bay by the gale. The launch Sea Hawk set out to the rescue and when she reached the surf-boat she found the latter being buffeted by huge breaking seas.'The rescuers were attempting to get a line to the boat when the engine of the Sea Hawk stopped. By the time it was started again the boat was further across the bay. On approaching the boat again, the launch's steering gear carried away and the attempt at rescue had to be abandoned. When those on the launch last saw the boat, siie had an anchor down. Shortly afterwards she disappeared in the heavy breakers. The launch got back with great difficulty. a spanner having to be used on the rudder-head by which to steer.

Although a close search was made of the shore and bay for several days, only a few pieces of wood from the engine-box were found. Reriti leaves a widow and five children. Daymond. who was a widower, leaves two children. A Fresh Tapu Because of the tragedy, the waters of Waitangi Bay have been declared tapu. When the Tees was there last week, fish were caught by some of the crew. In accordance with the usual practice, some were offered to the Maoris working the ship. They declined to accept them, nor would they convey the fish ashore to others. The bay is not a fishing ground for ';he professional fishermen.