OLD IN STORY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 112, 8 November 1930, Page 10

OLD IN STORY

«. TAPUINIKAU PA TARANAKI STRONGHOLD NOW A SCENIC RESERVE One of the most interesting spots which have been declared scenic reserves during the past year is the Tapuinikuu Pa, near Warea, Taranaki. The preservation and history of this old fighting-pa of the Taranaki tribe is set out in an article by Mr. CM. Hill, New Plymouth, and incorporated in the annual report of the Lands and Survey Department on scencry-prcscr-vation. "Some three years ago," writes Mr. Hill, "the historical Maori pa named Tapuinikau was in great danger of being ruined by the depredations of goats and cattle. Built probably three or four hundred years ago, and situated in an almost impregnable position on the Ika-Parua stream, two miles south-east of Warea, the pa was one of the greatest sanctuaries of the Taranaki Maoris in centuries gone by. 'Die district for many miles around held many pas, but it was to Taping nikau that the people retired and found sanctuary when threatened by invasion from warlike tribes from the Waikato and other northern districts. Little wonder that the ancient Maoris held the sanctuary in great veneration. From time to time native trustees have been appointed, but these have died out, with the exception of one old rangatira. named Inia tc Ngongohau, still living at Pungarehu. This old trustee is burdened with some eightysix or eighty-seven years, and has not been able for years past to actively engage himself in looking after Tapuinikau." At a meeting of settlers held at Warea a resolution was passed protesting against the destruction of forest on the pa, and urging that steps be taken to have it preserved. Ultimately it was decided by the Government to have the pa preserved under the .Scenery Preservation Act, and placed under the care of a special board of three Maoris and three pakehaa, with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, New Plymouth, as chairman. "I WILL SOON BE DEPARTING." For some time the old trustee, Inia te Ngongohau/was troubled about giving up his trusteeship, but subsequently the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. W. D. Armit, and several other gentlemen, all of whom had interested themselves in the proposed saving of the pa, met the Maoris of Pungarehu to discuss the matter. After the position had been carefully explained by the visitors, for whom the late Mr. Willie Gray acted as interpreter, Inia te Ngongohau said he was anxious to have his people's old fighting pa preserved for ever, and willingly gave his consent to hand over his trusteeship. But he wanted both races represented on the proposed board. It was good to know that the pakeha did not covet the pa, but wished to help the Natives have it set aside for ever. The speaker then, in a dramatic voice, cried: "I will soon be departing to the realms of my forefathers. I hereby give up my trusteeship and my authority." The Commissioner then called for three nominations of the Native people, as representatives on the board, and three were selected. FLAX JMATS AS BOOTY. "Tapuinikau is one of the greatest historic fighting-pas of the Taranaki tribe," continues Mr. Hill. "Mr. Skinner has stated that it underwent ia great siege in 1818, when a northern war-party comprising about two hundred warriors started from Kaipara on a raiding expedition to Taranaki, and gathered recruits as it went from Kawhia, Mohakatiuo, and even as far as Paritutu. Their object was to secure as booty a haul of the famous mats made by the industrious Taranaki Natives from the best-fibred flax in New Zealand. Many men from the neighbouring hapus gathered into the powerful pa to do battle with the invaders. Great preparations were made, and every precaution taken in accordance with the old Maori ideas of defence; great stores of stones were gathered up into the fighting-towers and on stages erected on trees commanding the trenches and approaches to the pa. There were a great many chiefs in the pa at the time of the attack. At the first onslaught the taua, or war-party, was repulsed by the Taranaki people under Buakiri. The invaders then prepared to make a regular siege of the place, with the idea of starving out the garrison, while the young men of the taua ranged the country in search of" food and plunder. In the first assault on the pa a great many of the taua had fallen, notwithstanding that they possessed guns, ■whilst the defenders had lost only a few men, even though their only weapons of defence were Native ones. 1 The besiegers, therefore, were thirsting for revenge. Amongst the taua, ' however, were some of the Te Atiawa 1 chiefs, and one of these, Pahau, was desirous that the Taranaki people should be saved. For that purposehe ; approached the pa himself, and during ; negotiations with the besieged, he was reminded that his grandfather had been saved alike by the Taranakis 1 when they took the Awa-te-take Pa. 1 The upshot of it was that Pahau con- ! veyed this information to two other chiefs associated with him, and after 1 consultation it was agreed to allow i the besieged Taranakis to escape from : the pa by night. ' "This decision, conveyed secretly to ! the pa, was very welcome, for supplies • in the stronghold were running short, ' while the taua, who had all the country ; around at their command, were detei- " mined to reduce the pa by starvation. ! The same night that the information " was received, with secrecy and dis- ; patch the garrison passed out of their '■ pa with the connivance of the Atiawa " sentries and made good their escape^ to • the He Kohatu Pa on the Patua (Kai- - take) Kanges. In the morning the taua were ycry surprised at seeing no smoke or hearing no voices in tho pa, for the coup had been managed so well 1 that no one but those immediately con--1 cerned knew of the arrangements made. • Great wonder was expressed as to how 3 the besieged had escaped. During the t siege Tawhia, a chief in the northern - contingent, was close under one of tho 1 towers of the pa, when one of the dei fenders cast a big stone at him, which ; split open his head. By careful doctoring, according to Maori ideas, he recovered, the treatment being to pour hot oil into , the wound, which was then sewn up. ' After the escape of.tho garrisor of Ta- , punikau and the plunder of the pa the J whole taua returned to their respective \ homes, taking with them numbers of j slaves and other booty in the shape of mats and dried heads. I THE EVENING OP THEIR LIVES. -1 "Tho territory round the foot of the pn, on both sides of the river, was ' occupied up to about twenty years ago by small families, generally old war- • ri'ors, who left the moro thickly populated kaiugas to got away from the over-increasing march of civilisation. :1 All their lives tho old toas, used to tho - Maori way of existence, cultivated Y their plots of kumaras, kumi-kiimi, and 1 taro, potatoes, and corn, and collected - berries in. the autumn. Helped in tlicir | labours by their faithful wahincs, the

evening of their lives could be spent in peace and quietness near the- homes of their forefathers. Then the forests wore full of pigeons, kakas, tuis, wekas, and a small edible vegetarian rat, which was snared and preserved in its fat for winter use. The river alongside also provided food in the form of tuna (eel), while a tramp to the seashore in summer and autumn enabled the old Natives to secure a chango of diet in shell fish, shark, and snapper. "The old people had a groat veneration for Tapuinikau, and looked upon the stronghold as tapu. Should visitors arrive and wander over the old fortification, they were warned not to touch any of the trees or shrubs. Clumps of flax growing on the summit were especially sacred, and should any one pull or cut the flax they wouldbe destroyed with makutu (witchcraft). The tuatara lizard, that strange New Zealand reptile which is a survival of antediluvian days, were to be found on the pa. The Natives took particular care not to molest them, as they wore under the particular care of Tano Mahutu, the Maori god, who controlled all affairs of the forest.. A Maori informant told the writer that up till recent times the bark around the foot of many sloping trees could be seen worn quite smooth and polished. This was caused by. the lizards drawing their scaly bodies over the bark as they climbed the trees to bask in the warm rays of the sun. "Most of the old people wore well versed in the ancient songs of their tribes, and on sunny mornings and at eventide would sit for hours near the river bank at the base of Tapuinikau and chant the history of their forefathers. There are several clumps of native bush on the river banks in the locality, and the note of the tui and mokomako (bell-bird) may be heard occasionall}'. Of fautails there are considerable numbers, and their friendliness as they pirouette out over the water in search of gnats are tho only movements that disturb the quietude of this interesting old home of tho departed Maori people. "On tho lower slopes of Tapuinikau is situated a large boulder named Raugi Hauku, sacred to the memory of the dead. For many generations Natives have paid periodical visits to tho spot to pay tribute to their departed.. When the mourner or mourners reach tho boulder they deposit green leaves on it, and then sit beside it and softly croon their ancient chants to the spirits of their ancestors."