MAORI NAVAL SQUADRON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18708, 14 May 1924, Page 11

MAORI NAVAL SQUADRON.

SCENES SEVENTY YEARS AGO.

TORTY WAR-CANOES ON BEACH,

An interesting contrast : with the pre-| sent appearance of the harbour is afforded by the following quotations from the Hon. W. Swainson's "Auckland and Its Neighbourhood," published in - 1852: — "On the shore., of the harbour on which the ; town is built the water is shoal, and its several bays at, low water are left uncovered. Except at. high water the landing generally along; the shore is inconvenient. For several yfears Auckland,, in this respect, enjoyed a bad preeminence but the V reproach - has' at length been removed by the erection of a neat wooden jetty 500 ft. in length. . . , There are no port charges, harbour dues or taxes levied on shipping and the harbour is open to all the world to enter and depart free of charge. ... "Once or twice a year the native chief Taraia and his tribe from the eastern boundary of the Gulf pay Auckland a visit in their fleet of 40 ': well-manned war-canoes. Drawing them up in / a line on the beach, and with their masts and 'sails pitching; a long line of various figured ; • tents, they • encamp i themselves' for several days —and the neighbourhood of their camping ; ground presents • ■ the appearance ;of , a fair. ; Pigs and potatoes, wheat, maize, ;; melons, ; - grapes ■; pumpkins, • - onions,, .flax, turkeys, geese, i ducks, fowls and firewood - are exposed I for sale." v \ . ; .