WAR CANOES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 150, 22 December 1938, Page 10

WAR CANOES

CENTENNIAL FLEET

SECTIONS BEGIN TO ARRIVE

Considerable interest was taken in Rotorua in' the arrival from Oruanui on Wednesday of three sections of the first of the fleet of Maori war canoes which Princess Te Puea Herangi, of Ngaruawahia, is sponsoring for the purpose of the approaching Centennial celebrations, states today's "New Zealand Herald." The largest section is 35ft in length, and the bow and stern pieces are similarly bulky. A fourth section of the same canoe, also 35ft in length, has still to be transported from Oruanui. The sections are roughly shaped, and some of the hollowing out. work hasalready been done, but the great bulk of shaping and finishing has still to be carried out at Ngaruawahia. Not the least of this will be the joining of the four sections. The task is of peculiar I difficulty, and will be performed according to ancient Maori practice. . Skilled carvers will be set to work upon the profuse and intricate ornamentation of the great craft, which will then be carefully seasoned before being launched upon the Waikato on the first stage of its journey to the Waitemata Harbour, where the whole fleet will be assembled. There are to be seven canoes in all, and the timber for four of them is to be brought from the totara forests near Oruanui in 16 separate sections. The remaining sections will be brought out of the bush and taken to Ngaruawahia after Christmas. Ancient Maori ceremonies attended the removal of the canoe pieces. According to immemorial custom, the ends of the various sections were placed against the stump of the original tree from which they were hewn, this, according to Maori tradition, representing the farewell of the canoe to its parent tree. It is stated that when the canoe sections arrive at Ngaruawahia the ancient ceremony of raising the tapu will be performed over them, due to the fact that a woman touched one of the logs while it was in course of preparation. According to Maori custom, no woman must touch or approach a war canoe while it is being constructed. If a woman does so, the canoe becomes tapu, and before it can be worked upon the tapu must be removed. '