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Hawera Star, Volume LI, 4 May 1931, Page 5

It is generally believed that the curing of muttonbinls was introduced to] the Maoris by the early whalers, states the “Auckland Herald.” This, however, is denied by two Bluff residents, 1 Messrs. John Wesley and W. Spenser, senior, both over 80 years old, who ■laim that the try pot method was. in use long l>efore the coming of the pakclia, although it is admitted that the' introduction of iron pots made cooking a less laborious process. In pre-wlialer days the Maori try pot was fashioned from the . solid l»dle of a tree. This was hollowed by fire, water being continually poured over the outer wood to'prevent burning through. The cooking of the birds was a tedious task. I Naturally the wooden utensil could not bet set on a fire so the muttonbird fat I was brought to the boil by redl hot ' stones which were heated in a large fire | near by and then dropped into the liquid. ’ Messrs. Wesley and Spencer [remember having seen several of the | wooden jiots on Green Island, off Ruapuke, when they were boys.