MAORI RELICS —' 11 ♦—-INTERESTING ADDITIONS TO MUSEUM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 53, 30 August 1913, Page 9

MAORI RELICS — ' 11 ♦ — - INTERESTING ADDITIONS TO MUSEUM

HISTORIC CANOE. [BX TJtMiGRAPH— SPECIAL -TO THE POST.] AUckLAND, This Day. Several interesting additions have recently been made to the Maori collection in the Auckland Museum. The most important are the figure-head and the stern-post of an ancient war canoe known as Te Atairehia, which, with three others, was owned by the first Maori "King,"' Patatau, and was used by him both on tho Waikato and Waipa Rivers prior to the Waikato War of 1863 and following years. The canoe is Said to have been over 80ft in length, with room for 140 paddlers and fighting men. During several years after the close of the Maori War the canoe remained neglected at the Waikato Heads, Btit was eventually repaired and decorated by the late Major Te Wheoro, for the purpose of conveying Sir George Grey, then Prime Minister of the colony, to a large meeting of Natives at Whatiwhatihoe, on the Upper Waipa River. This gathering is historical. Several members of the Government accompanied Sir George Grey, his mission being to arrange terms ,01 peace with King Tawhiao and the Natives of the King Country. The object was not achieved until some time later. The big canoe was afterwards drawn up On the banks of the Waipa River, at Whatiwhatiho*:, and was treated as tapu. It soon be* came unseaworthy, and was given by Tawhiao to Mr. James Berry, on whose land it had been placed. Ultimately the hull was sawn into lengths, which were split into fencing posts. The carvings were preserved, and, though they are a little weather-worn, they form a valuable acquisition to the Museum, owing to their historic associations. They were presented by Mr. Berry. The carved monument which was erected by Tawhiao over the tomb of his eldest son at Whatiwhatihoe has also been presented by Mr. Berry. An interesting pigeon-trough has been forwai'ded to tho Museum by a settler ih the Paparata Valley. This trough was carved in the root of an ancient living miro tree. It is well known that when the Nativo pigeons were feeding on the fruit of the miro its resinous nature caused them to become exceedingly thirsty, so that they resorted in great numbers to the nearest supply of water. In olden times the Maoris took advantage of the birds' needs by providing water, either in portable troughs or in troughs hollowed in the roots of living trees. These troughs were surrounded by_ snares, so that in satisfying their thirst the pigeons found their way to the Native food supplies. *