MAORI CANOES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23227, 22 December 1938, Page 16

MAORI CANOES

WORK FOR CENTENNIAL TRANSPORT OF SECTIONS ASSEMBLY AT NGARUAWAHIA [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Wednesday Considerable interest was taken in Rotorua to-dav in the arrival from Oruanui of three sections of the lirst of the fleet of Maori war canoes which Princess To Puea Herangi, of Ngaruawnhia, is sponsoring for the purpose of the approaching Centennial celebrations*. The lamest section is 155 ft. in length, while bow and stern pieces are similarly bulky. A fourth section of the same canoe, also Uoft. in length, has still to be transuortod from Oruanui. The sections are roughly shaped, and some of the hollowing out work has aireadv been done, but the great bulk of shaping and finishing has still to be oariied out at Ngaruawahia Not the least of this will be tho joining of the four sections. The task is of peculiar difficulty, and will be performed according to ancient Maori practice. Skilled carvers will be set to work upon the profuse and intricate ornamentation of tho great craft, which will then be carefully seasoned before being launched upon the Waikato on the first stage of its journey to tho Wuitemata Harbour, where tho whole fleet will be assembled. There are to be seven canoes in all, and the timber for four of them is to be brought from the totara forests near Oruanui in 16 separate sections, lh« remaining sections will be brought out of the bush and taken to Ngaruawahia after Christmas. The ancient Maori ceremonies attended the removal of canoe piecesAccording to immemorial custom, tho ends of the various sections wcie placed against the stump of the original tree from which they were hewn, this, according to Maori tradition, representing the farewell of the canoe to its parent treo It is stated that when the canoe sections arrive at Ngaruawahia the ancient ceremony of raising tho tapn will be performed over them, due to the fact that a woman' touched one of the logs while it was in course of preparation. According to nuiori custom, no woman must touch or approach near to a war canoe while it is being constructed. 11' a woman does so, the canoe becomes tnpu, and before it. can be i worked upon the tapu must be removed.