HISTORIC CANOE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13780, 19 June 1908, Page 7

HISTORIC CANOE.

THE TAHERETIKITIKI.

OLD TUHAERE'S FLAGSHIP.

Aito.vcsT the interesting tilings the American visitors will see in Auckland is the old war canoe which represented the flagship of Paeoro Tuhaere. the Ngatiwhatu chief. This vessel. Taheretikitiki by name, was sent from the Waikato tc Christchurch for the Exhibition, and after the close of the great show it to not too well looked after, being left -it Hagley Park, at the mercy of any vandal who came along, and portions of the sides and some of the'seats were taken away. A telegram published on Thursday stated that the Native Minister had ordered the return of the canoe to Auckland, and will be placed on,the waters of the harbour, and manned by a Maori crew when the American fleet arrives. . . The canoe was lent to the pa at the Exhibition by Manilla, the principal owner, whose two relatives, ■'• old Mahuta" and Ahuriri, brought her down from the Waikato. The name Taheretikitiki means " the warrior's crest," in allusion to the old custom of hairdressing by making a knot high on the head. The canoe is a well-modelled craft, 84ft in length, with a beam of sft amidships. The hull consists of three sections which are cunningly dovetailed into one another, the middle section being 50ft in length. Topsides are lashed oh either side, and the canoe is finished bow and stern with lofty carved ornaments. While the canoe was in use during the Exhibition it had a high stern-post with the customary feathers, and a carved figure-head from which projected two long hihi wands decked with white tufts of albatross feathers. Taheretikitiki has' a. notable history, though her triumphs have been those of the regatta course, rather than of war. She was built about 30 years ago from a kauri tree, and was launched at Kaipara by the Ngatiwhatu tribe for their old chief, the late Paul Tuhaeie, of Orakei, near Auckland'.. For many years the canoe was kept at Orakei Bay, and Tuhaere used her frequently to pay visits of state to warships in the Waitemata. About 16 years ago he presented the canoe to. the old Maori King, Tawliiao, and she was shipped to the Waikato River, where she was often manned to cany the late Mr. Seddon, Governors, and oilier notabilities across the river to Maliuta's village at Waahi. The famous old canoe competed on many occasions in exciting races in Auckland Harbour, twice against man-of-war cutters. About six years ago she was taken to Auckland again, and manned by 50 warriors, put up a splendid fight over a. two-mile course against two of H.M.s. Tauraugw.'s cutters, eventually beating both. A day or two later Taheretikitiki further distinguished herself. Her 50 barebacked Waikatos paddled her to victory against two well-known canoes, the Omapere and Tawatawa, from the Bay of Islands.

During the Exhibition the canoe was one of the most interesting features of the Maori pa, and. riding on the calm waters of the lake, with her stately decorations, she was admired by thousands of visitors. The sight of Taheretikitiki filled with half-naked paddlers, keeping time to the rhythm of the singer who directed them, was one not easily to be forgotten. The smaller canoes on the lake looked pigmies beside the Waikato giaut, and the big canoe was always a centre of interest. When the Maori pa was dismantled, the canoes, with the exception of Taheretikitiki were removed, but after her trappings had been taken away the large canoe was left on. .the shores of the lake, where she has been lying since April. As an historical example of Maori canoe building, Taheretikitiki is of great value, and efforts were made to have her transferred to the Christchurch Museum.; There was a deadlock, however, ani the consent of Mahuta. was not obtained.