MOUNTAIN OF WARFARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18496, 5 September 1923, Page 10

MOUNTAIN OF WARFARE.

ONE TREE HILL'S HISTORY.

THE DAYS OF LONG AGO.

The Maori history of Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) and allied pas was the subject of a lecture delivered by Mr. M. H. Wynyard at the Epsom Library last evening, and the historical information embodied in the lecture, Mr. Wynyard explained, was collected from various sources, the principal being Mr. S. Percy Smith's " Peopling of the North," and the late Judge Fenton's " Orakei Judgment."

The story of Maungakiekie commenced abdut two centuries ago when the present Auckland isthmus was the scene of many sanguinary encounters between opposing native tribes. Kiwi Tamaki, chief of the Waiohua tribe, who appeared to have been a powerful leader and military genins, fortified Maungakiekie and used it as his central pa. The conical top of the hill was known to the Maoris as To Totara-i-ah'ut, the name having reference to a single totara tree which grew there and formed a landmark for miles around. This tree had been planted on the birth of one Koriki, the son of a. chief of the Ngatiawa, who first saw the light on Maungakiekie when his tribe was journeying from Hokianga to, Taranaki. The tree was destroyed by. some vandal of a pakeha,: but although the 'late Sir John Logan Campbell replaced it by other trees, the 'destruction of so historic a relic, < i which. was held sacred .by the Maoris, was much ' to :be deplored. ■ The fortifications of the hill were described ■ and. the lecturer showed how, under the regime of Kiwi Tamaki, his tribe became one of the most feared and powerful .in the land. He., was always at'war with one tribe or another and for a time he eitioved unbroken success. The rise of the Waiohua, however, was not more sudden or complete than their fall. Apparently Kiwi Tamaki put. too much faith in his prowess and he did not temper valour with discretion. His ruthless attacks on neighbouring tribes brought, in cowrse of time, various - "pin-prick" reprisals. Eventually "'Kiwi advanced apainst the Ngatiwhatua tribe, under Te Wahaakiahi on the shores of the ManUkau, near Little -Muddy Creek. In the fieht that ensued Kiwi was. killed by the owiosme chief on the - high ground at Titiranpi." ;t ■ " ■ The Ngatiwhatua, after routine? their enemies, occupied MaungakieVie, the portion of the tribe which established itself there being known as the Ngaoho." Thev also were closely pressed by enemies *>r>d eventually, in 1822, they, with allies, suffered defeat at Panmure at the hands of the great Ngapnhi warrior, Hongi Ika. Thosft of the defeated tribes who survived. subsequently dwelt ;on the southern slopes of Maunccakiekie and in adioininp pas. But the glory .of Maungakiekie had departed, its history as a home of fighters being at an end. . ,