MAORI CURIO.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 255, 27 September 1932, Page 3

MAORI CURIO.

FIND AT HOROWHENUA. Yet another curio has been added by a Levin resident to the various Maori objects of historical interest which he has unearthed from the land adjoining the north end of the Horowhenua Lake, where lie has been engaged on drainage work. This latest is a canoe paddle, made from some hard wood, probably titoki, and beautifully finished. It measures over all oft Bin, the blade being 3ft sin long and the handle 2ft 3in. The blade is 7£in across the broadest part, and its greatest thickness is not more than half an inch. The tip is finely tapered and bent like a feather, so that the paddle would cut easily through the water on the return stroke, in accordance with the Native system of j>ropelling the canoe without removing the sweep from the water. The very flat inner surface of the blade, and its keen water-cutting edge, show remarkable workma.nship, considering that the paddle must have been fashioned xvith stone implements; and a close study of the article makes it evident that it was designed with a view to thorough efficiency. It was discovered at a depth of 2ft 6m at an a.ncient higli-xvater mark, in the vicinity of previous finds, which included spears and balers. The fact of ail these articles having been distributed over a small area suggests they were the property of a canoe party xvlio liad a hostile reception on landing, on some occasion long past (says the Levin Chronicle).