STORY OF LOST MERE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 13

STORY OF LOST MERE.

RELIC OF A GREAT. TRIBE,

ROMANTIC RECOVERY MADE.

DEPOSIT IN MUSEUM SUGGESTED.

In (lie liorne of Mr. H. Martin, at Hokianga, is a magnificent greenstone nierp, known by the Maoris affectionately as Waimiri, which for many generations before the coming of the while man to New Zealand was treasured as a battle axe of the Te Aupouri tribe. For many years lost,' it was eventually discovered near Hauturu, and, excepting a few vicissitudes, has remained in the possession of various branches of the. tribe ever since. The story of its recovery and subsequent wanderings is related in tl.e following words by Mrs. Mona Hocft, of Auckland, a direct descendant of the Te Aupouri chiefs: —

Many generations ago, in the Far North of Auckland, on tho west coast, north of Hokianga Harbour, were many beautiful hamlets and valleys. In these were settled many tribes of Maoris, who had lived happily for generations. A prettier settlement or kianga, than Hauturu was hard to find. Fish of all descriptions, wild pigs, pigeons and fern loots were the chief foods, and were very plentiful, so there was no worrying about their daily bread.

Hauturu Valley was beautifully situated for cultivating purposes and surrounded on three sides by great mountains of lovely native woods. Through this valley ran a pretty little stream of cool, clear water. On the western side was a natural outlet leading on (o a lovely beach of white sand, where children played all day long. In the kainga lived (he Te Aupouri tribe, the descendants of Wheru, the greatest chief of his day. Child Makes a Discovery. As the years went by the happy little kainga was broken up. Families went off to the gumfields until at last one solitary man was left in the place with his grand-daughter, Wene. He was a descendant of the great chiefs who had lived and fought for this land for generations, so he would not leave his ancestors' home.

For many years he and his granddaughter lived very happily in the deserted kainga. One day, oil one of their long tramps which they were in tho habit of taking, they made a great discovery. Wene was running ahead of her grandfather gathering wild berries and flowers when they camo to some high cliffs and caves. She climbed up, looking in the nooks and caves, as children do. Suddenly she saw the green end of a stone sticking out from between the crack in a rock. She called her grandfather up to see it. When ho came to her ho knew that the long-lost mere, Waimiri, which was his ancestors' greatest treasure and pride, was there before him. Years ago a great chieftainess had owned this mere. It was a battle axe of many of her bravo sons and warriors. It had been handed down for generations until the coming of the pakeha to New Zealand. Then one of the sons of the tribe hid it so that it would not fall into the hands of one who was not worthy to handle it. The tradition concerning it, the good luck attached to it, and the belief that it was hidden somewhere in Hauturu were well known among the chief descendants. Many had hunted secretly for it, but no one had succeeded. The Mere Brought to Light.

As the old man gazed at it lying in its muddy bed, he wept loudly and for long, and before removing it ho said a prayer over it to chase away the powers of darkness. It was a bright, sunny morning, but, just as he took hold of the mere, thunder and lightning commenced, and rain poured in torrents for several minutes. Then all was bright and sunny, again. As he washed and cleaned the. mere he sat for hours admiring its beautiful workmanship, carved by some dead ancestor. It measured fullv two and ahalf feet long, and the handle was beautifully carved. It was made of the best greenstone. News of the finding of the mere Waimiri soon spread far and w.de, and invitations came for " her " from several tribes, for among these people the mere was looked upon as a lady of high standing, and was even addressed as such. Her guardian, with his tribe, visited other tribes who wished to see " her," and wherever she went she was loaded up with presents of all kinds, which were divided among her bearers. Wherever they took her she was accorded great welcomes and tangis, just as though she were some well-loved person who had been missing for years. She was passed on lo the chiefs of the Te Aupouri, who resided in the extreme North, and was there for several years. ' Mere Sold and Recovered.

In the meantime the old man who had found the mere died, and his younger brother brought it back and became its guardian. The next guardian of Waimiri sold her secretly for a small sum so that he might attend the Land Court. This was in 1900. She had then been known for at least ten generations. At last, after a good deal of trouble, the Waimiri was oucn more redeemed after 18 years. Those n more direct line now say," " Send her to the museum, poor Waimiri. Take her out of bondage and give her a placo of safety." And what, would be more fitting for anything so beautiful and tapu '!