THE NATIVE HOUSE AT MOIUITI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue II, 28 May 1880, Page 2

THE NATIVE HOUSE AT MOIUITI.

«_. For some time past, as our readers are aware, the natives residing at Mutuiti — about three miles north of Foxton — have been engaged in the erection of a large meeting house. This has been at length completed, and was formally opened last Tuesday evening 1 . Every preparation had been made to make the proceedings successful. Invitations had been sent to all the tribes in the district, representatives being sent in response. Amongst the most notable of the parsons who attended were the following: — Meto Kingi (Wnnganui), Hoani Taipua, Hema te Ao, and Mafcene te Whiwhi (Otaki), Te Munu (Wangaehu).' Ihakara Tukumaru (Foxton), Moroati Kiharoa (Poutu), Te Heu Heu (Taupo), Hoani Meihana (Orona Bridge), Nepia Taratoa, Takirei, Roera Hukiki, Pitihera, Fawiri Wanui, and several Maori clergymen, including the Revs. Arona, Ilenare Horekau, and two others. On Wednesday morning, when our representative visited the village, the scone was one of extreme animation. The population appeared to have been greatly increased .there being at the lowest estimate front 300 to 400 persons present. These were scattered about in different and varying attitudes. Some of the lohares were crowded with people, whilst all over the village could be seen knots of natives, in most cases chatting or joking one another, some playing " draughts," one posse carving an " ancestor "out of a block of wood, whilst, here and there the low wail of a couple of women who were sorrowing over the loss of some mutual friend or relative sent forth a melancholy sound, which, however,- wa9 unheeded by the large number who were bent on enjoying themselves. The dresses of the natives were of course varied. Some wore European costume pure and simple, others had their shoulders covered with flax mats, tastefully ornamented, whilst in some cases merely a shawl was loosely thrown over the bpdy. The whole assemblage was picturesque in the extreme. The centre of interest was of course the new building, which is now the most conspicuous feature of the village. Around this most of the people were gathered, whilst in front of it were piled up two immeuse heaps of food, intended as a present from some of the visitors, the said heaps comprising a bullock ready for cooking, numerous sheep and pigs, and an array of kits of potatoes, besides a prodigious quantity of melons, pumpkins, dried fish, dec, the whole emitting an odour whioh, however agreeable to the Maori, was certainly anything but delightful to the Pakeha. We must not omit to mention that the natives of Otaki showed, as usual, great liberality, no less than eight cartloads of kai being sent from the natives there to the feast. The new building is a large affair, the dimensions being — 70 feet long, 35 feet wide. The outside walls are only 5J feet wide, but they rise at a very acute angle, the centre of the roof having a height of about 15 feet. The outside walls are weatherboarded, and the roof is shingled in ordinary European stylo. On walking to the front, however, it is at once seen that tho building is a very handsome Maori house. Surmounting the front is an enormous head, carved in tbe usual Maori fashion, and intended to roprsßent Rangipumamau, one of the great ancestors of the Turanga tribe, to which the natives residing ot the village of Motuiti belong. This figure is surrounded by a deep fringe of feathers, apparently intended to supply the place of the hair, and giving it a peculiar appearance. Over the door is a wonderful engraving intended to repraaent Pareroro, one of the female ancestors of the tribe ; whilst over the window is a figure representing Aputu ki Wairau. & daughter of Ihakara Tukumaru, the said young lady being ornamented with a piece of greenstone in each ear. As is usual in Muori meeting houses, the roof and sides run out some distance beyond the front of the actual house. There is thus a considerable space sheltered on three aides, the

fronb being open. At Motaiti duSf apace is about Vi feat 4 ee P by the iail. width, and affords anjple acooraodiition for a large number of person 3to sit and listen to any speechifying that may be going on outside. Entering the building by the door, "which is well carved, itMJ.xisitor is**fc once struck with its exceedingly* "handsome 1 * interior. The main rafters are all painted in red and whi*-o according the usual Maori pattern, but what most .attracted our attention was the~VSfy handsome lining of the walls, which was done as follows :— A layer of toi toi reeds had .been „plaoad.-p«*— pendicularly. Above these were" laid horizontally about an inch apart snpplejuok strips, all painted red, these beincc bound by flax, about an eighth of an fa°k wideband of two colours — white aSiT da^¥ brown . These, two colours show- very prettily on the red back ground, and as the different eolpuvs^of flax— eaoh set/aboUfc^ two, inches wi3e-—are alternately pliioed, and work iv a zizzag pattern to thf roof they give a Tery handsome appearance to the interior. About three feet apart red boards are placed from floor to roof all round inside, the intervening spaces being covered in the manner already described, whilst a very pleasing variety is given by small oval shaped rafters, apparently blaokenpd by some nativo process (probably burning) being flxed~in fch'e' centre ~of the intervening space, and white lax being tied upon each in a very artistic fashion. There are inside the building Six figures one representing Te Ahuru (a Ngatiapa j warrior), another Paraikaia Pohepa (a renowned ancestor, of Turang*), whilst two others' named respectively Alautukiiea' afldf Mauhapainga are mythical representations,/ The other two had not Veen " christened ' when our. representative visited the Village^ During the feast a large number of Europoans have visited Motuiti, every, hospitality being extended to them by the natives. Numerous hakas have been given i by the different bodies of natives present, and everything so far has bean conducted in a sober and quiet manner. On Wednes-. day evening a great number of the Europe* an residents of Foxton visited tha village, and an impromptu 3ance was got up on the grass, besides other f on, the greatest gOjOd feeiing being manifested by all parties -