MAORI SUPERSTITION

Evening Star, Issue 18173, 13 January 1923, Page 3

MAORI SUPERSTITION

THE HAUNTED WHARE. A STRANGE LEGEND. [Contributed to tho Christchurch ‘ Press.’] It is perhaps of interest to recount a legend relating to the “.Haunted Whare,” situated in tlio Tongariro National Park, on the slopes of Ruapehu. This whare, even now, is regarded with aversion by the Maoris in tho vicinity, and the majority of the white settlers of the district would 1 rather sleep elsewhere than in its precincts. Long ago, before the pakeha came to the dominion, an aged Maori chief resided ■with his daughter in a pa near Ruapehu. Tho daughter was beautiful, and-, as was natural, she attracted tho attention of the younger warriors ot the tribe. Many offers were made to the chief for her, but, as she numbered an excellence in cooking ability amongst her charms, tho old man refused to part with her. At length she fell in love with a young Maori, and the couple decided to elope. They earned out their intention, and fled to Ruapehu to escape the anger of the girl’s father. Here they built a- hut on tho site where the ‘‘Haunted Whare” now stands, and resided in it, happy enough until some interfering person discovered their whereabouts, and informed the chief of it. Bent on revenge, the girl’s father proceeded to the whare, and arrived there at dusk. He waited throughout the night in the bushnearby, and an hour before dawn entered and killed his daughters husband with his spear. He returned to the pa of his tribe, taking his daughter with him,; but her mind was unhinged by the tragedy. One day she left her father’s whare in search of her husband, and returned to her erstwhile homo on tho slopes of Ruapehu. Here she was unable to find her dear one, and in her grief drowned herself in a stream flowing past tho back of the whare. Then began the supernatural visits to the whare. A tribal dispute ai'ose amongst the Maoris regarding a boundary, of which tho stream in which the girl drowned herself -formed a part. The northern tribecamped on the banks of tho stream and’ sen! a bravo to live in the “ Haunted’ Whare.” leach day his fellow-tribemen brought their representative food, and to them lie complained that an hour before the dawn every morning tho apparition of a beautiful Maori girl appeared' at the door of the hut, walked across to the fireplace, whore she seated herself for some time, and subsequently disappeared. One morning tho tribesmen, on reaching the lint with their provisions, found their brother warrior lying dead on the floor. They accused tho southern Maoris of poisoning him, but the allegation was vehemently denied. Tho death was attributed to the ghost, and t-ho whare was declared tap u. After the pakeha came to Now Zealand the but continued to bear its sinister reputation. On one occasion, however, a half-caste shepherd, disdaining the traditions ot tho Native .section of his ancestry, Look up residence in tho whare. He. too, mot a similar fate, and was found lying dead on the floor. An. ex-Trinity College man who had come down in the world was tho wharc’s next occupant. Ho was following the calling of a shepherd, and was stated to be particularly partial to intoxicants. From him was gained the most comprehensive account of the supernatural visitant. Ho stated that an hour before dawn each morning the ghostly representation of a handsome Maori girl would enter tho hut and scat herself by the five. His dogs, which occupied portion of the whare. bristled and whined with fear on her advent; but as time went on the white mam became used to the visitations, and regarded his visitor more as a companion than one to be feared. (Jn several occasions he attempted to speak to her, and even approached her, tout she would permit of no overtures, and unkindly disappeared on each occasion. The ex-Trinity man did not die. but left the whare after several years’ stay. The last recorded visit was recounted by a then well-known Wellington surveyor who, with bis wife, was visiting the Tongariro National Park, and decided to sleep in.the w r hare overnight in order to get'a good start in climbing Ruapehu next morning. They knew of the legend regarding Ihe whare, but were not disposed to place much faith in it. However, as the hours wore on, the ghostly visitant appeared, and the gentleman and his wife began their ascent of tho mountain even earlier than they had intended.

In conversation with the writer, tho present keeper of • the park stated that since tho occasion above mentioned the old wharo was burnt down and a new one erected 1 in its place. In this building he had occasion to sleep several times, but the nights passed) without., an jr, disturbing 9 vent, ;