MAORI WAR CANOE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 12

MAORI WAR CANOE

COMPLETE RESTORATION DUNEDIN MUSEUM PLAN Visitors to the Otago University Museum at present may see th© final stages in the restoration of a Maori canoe which came into the possession of the museum authorities some months ago. Mr. T. A. C. Hall, of Auckland, an expert carver with a wide knowledge of the Maori and his handcrafts, who carried out restoration work upon Maori houses in both the Auckland and Otago Museums, has been engaged for a considerable time in fitting oqt the canoe as a war vessel, and it is expected that the- whole work will be completed next month. The early history of the canoe is lacking, but it is known to have been used many years ago on the Wanganui River, and the late Hon. John Ballance, a former Premier, is said to have once been a passenger in it. Eventually the craft was drawn up on the river bank and there left derelict. When it came into the possession of the museum, much harm had been done by weather, but this did not dismay the authorities, who decided to restore it as nearly as possible to its original appearance as a war canoe. Unlike most such vessels, the canoe has not been made from a single-tree, but is in two sections mortised together, which may indicate that the builders had the use of European tools. Its length is 52ft. The Maori war canoe carried a considerable superstructure upon its dug-out hull. In addition to the carved figurehead and stern-post, long planks or bulwarks, elaborately decorated, were lashed along the sides from stem to stern, and the upper edges of these were joined and supported by thwarts. The joints and lash-ing-holes were caulked with down from the raupo in order to keep out the water and a long grating of manuka sticks, with holes for baling, was provided for tho paddlers to kneel upon. As all this superstructure had disappeared when the present canoe came into the possession of the museum, Mr. Hall's task was no light one. Fortunately, the authorities were able to secure from Auckland four planks of kauri, two 40ft. in length, one 22ft. and one 18ft., the planks being 18in. in width by 2£in. in thickness. A figure-head of Taranaki workmanship had beon obtained separately by tho museum and it was decided that tho symbolical carving upon the side-boards should be in a style typical of that district. Mr. Hall, who learned his art from the Maoris, had no difficulty in preparing suitable designs, and these ho is now carrying out. The museum authorities are confident that tho result will represent Maori art at its best.