“Kaikoura”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 27

“Kaikoura”

I used to live in Kaikoura. which is such a pretty place. I wonder if you hare ever been there? The combination of mountains, hills and sea is not very often found. I have rarely seen such beautiful sunrises and sunsets as there, where in the morning the sun comes up from the sea as a ball of fiery gold, and sets on a cushion of rose and other misty shades, behind the mountains.. In winter the ranges are covered with a blanket of snow on the summits. Only after very heavy storms does it come below halfway, though. Every year we would go m lorries and cars to the school plantation at the foot of mountains, to add more pine trees to those already planted. Once the required number was planted we would climb up to the snow and have a great time snowballing. Needless to say, we were very reluctant to answer the summons of horn toots which told us that home time had come. The Maori history of that district is very interesting, though bloodthirsty. Maori weapons and other greenstone articles are still being dug up. On the top of the peninsula are several trenches which were used as a means of defence. Somewhere in the district a large treasure is buried; its whereabouts only known to one or two of the Natives, who keep their secret well. A white man would never be allowed to touch it. even if he knew where it was. The treasure consists of greenstone, mainly, and was hidden by the Maoris at the time when they were in fear of an attack on the pa by Te Rauparaha. One lofty cliff still reminds us of that attack by its name, Lover's Leap. When Te Rauparaha landed and began his fearful massacre, a chiefs daughter escaped and ran southwards along the cliff tops. However, she was chased by a young warrior who sought her as a liride, but rather than become the wife of an enemy she threw herself over the tallest cliff. There was a small pa above the Khautara River, seven miles south of the nuiin one, mid there the Kaikoura Natives resisted the ■ invaders strongly. They were in a very safe position on the hill. Te Rauparaha, ever wily and crafty, pretended to paddle away in his war canoes. But, under cover of dark, he doubled back north and hid in a bay. Then he sent two of his swimmers tin the river, dressed in sealskins. They swam slowly and in full view of the Natives in the pa above, and then lay on the banks of the river as if basking in the sun. After a long time the Natives decided that it was safe to venture out of their stronghold. “For,” they said, “the seals would not come out of the river if there were any danger.” But as they were returning to the pa Te Ruaparaha’s warriors attacked them, killing all.— Ember (17), Kelburn.