MAORI CANOES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23218, 12 December 1938, Page 14

MAORI CANOES

CENTENNIAL.FLEET FINE CRAFT TAKE SHAPE PRINCESS TE PUEA'S EFFORTS Details of the flfeet of canoes being built under tho inspiration and guidance of Princess To Puea for the forthcoming centennial celebrations were given by Mr. F. 0. V. Acheson, 'Judge of the Native Land Court, in addressing members of the Overseas League at an annual Christmas party on Saturday night. Mr. Acheson said that in planning the canoes the forest at Oruanui had been searched for its finest totara trees. Twelve of theso were sot aside, and from theso four flawless specimens were finally chosen. Each of these trees was 70 feet in height .to tho first branch, 20 to 24 feet in girth and seven to eight feet in diameter. The logs were now being hewn right in the heart of tho forest. Traditional Style Adopted The canoes would be made in the traditional stylo, in three pieces. The centre section was at least 50 feet long, and the bow and stern pieces each 25 feet. These three pieces were strongly bound together so as to be perfectly rigid,, and the completed length of tho structure was close on 100 feet. This was considerably larger than tho War Memorial Museum exhibit To Toko a Tapiri, which was about 84 feet long. Each canoe would have finely-carved bow pieces and high stern posts, and the high sides would also be carved. Each vessel would bo manned by a crew of 100 warriors and maidens, the costumes for whom were now being made at the Ngaruawahia Pa. Flagship 120 Feet Long For tho flagship of the fleet a kauri tree had been chosen in tho North, said Mr. Acheson, and it was now being fashioned into a canoe at Kerikeri. 11l is vessel, built of wonderfully mottled and coloured kauri, would be a magnificent production, totalling 120 feet in length, and carrying a crew of 150 people, 100 warriors and 50 maidens, wearing tho black and white costumes of the northern Maori. This fine ileet was a gr«at gesture on Princess Te Puea's part, and much self-sacrifice and hard work must go into its completion. In return she desired that the Europeans should recognise that the Maoris had rangatira thoughts, that this work embodied tho sotd of their people, and that the Europeans should recognise the Maoris as fellow-citizens and equals.