Last of Maori War Canoes for Museum

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 43, 21 February 1938, Page 8

Last of Maori War Canoes for Museum

JOURNEY DOWN WANGANUI RIVER Par Press Association. WANGANUI, Feb. 19. An event historical significance will be enacted to-morrow when a band of Maoris will bring to Wangan:ii city by the river one of the last of the old war canoes, which an up-river tribe is handing over to the Wanganui Museum for safe keeping. Negotiations have been completed for the canoe to be housed at the museum, but it ha 3 been arranged that it may oe used in regattas on the river. When it was learned that the Maoris were willing to have the canoe housed in the museum, the board of trustees o i the institution offered to have it towed from its mooring place, near Parakino. to the city, but the tribe declined this suggestion, stating that it would be fitting that the veteran should be fci ought down in more ceremonial manner. It has therefore been arranged that it will be manned by 20 men of the tribe, who will paddle the craft down the waters with which it has so long been associated.

A feature of the canoe is its shapely lines. This, combined with its bulk, is most impressive, and when manned by a full complement of warriors in the early days it must have been capable ol a good turn of speed. To recall the history of the canoe is to conjure visions of its early associations with tribal battles and more peaceful fishing expeditions. Tha name of the craft is “Te-Wehi-Ote-Rangi,” which means “The Dread of the Sky,' or, in a more practical sense, “The Dreadful Day.” It was possibly with an eye to future engagements with other tribes that it was thus named. It is estimated that the seating accommodation to Te-Wehi-ote-Rangi is 70 men. The fighting forces of the Maoris were always of three see re svj ten. which was looked on as the lucky dumber.