"DUNEDIN AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13516, 13 February 1906, Page 6

"DUNEDIN AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD."

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Tho above is tho short title of an octavo issued from tho press of the Otago Daily Times. It was published as 3 "handbook for the use of members of the Australasian .Association for tho Advancement of Science." It names some of tho host literary and scientific talent of the colony, as its authors; and when a standard history comes to' be written, wo may bo sure it will be rclictl on for material facts. In that case we Ijocomo vitally intcreste-d in fretting these facts well authenticated, so tliat the structural of such compilation may rest and remain on solid grounds. It is in no capricious spirit I approach the subject, but simply a desire to see these facts brought, in line with the purpose named. Furthermore, I wish it understood I speak with all due respect, and subject to correction.

Dealing with the Native settlement of what is now Duncdin, Mr Alexander Sathgato tolls us that the Ngatinamoc were " displaced" by the Ngaitahu, and goes on to speak of Iho "final overthrow" of tho former. That the Ngaitahu did get wedged into these lands is quite true, but it. was not warlike enterprise put I hem in. but .simply family settlement. The final subjugation of the Ngatimamoe is spoken of, but as a matter of fact tho Ngati-mamoo woro never finally subjugated In their wars with the Ngaitalm they were driven further and further south, and all fitrongholds north of tlia Waitaki were occupied by the latter, but south of that river they never obtained permanent'footing of which wo', have any .well-authenticated record. About this time both .'tribes had weakened themselves by fiereei . in-ter-tribal war waged with each other. Moreover, the TV Rauparaha scare set in, and instead of pro.vecut.inji their wars to extermination, as they were wont to do, they entered into an alliance for mutual protection, and became an amalgamated people. Meantime intermarrying,; had licen going on between tho two. ■ Taiih-roa. (Taiaroa) the elder had married into - tiie Karctai—one of the chief families of the Ngatinianioe—and leaving Kaikotira, went to reside with his wife's relations at Otago Heads. She died childless, and Taiaroa remarried into the Ngaitahu. Tho late Taiaroa, a member of the Legislative Council, was born of this marriage, so that he was pure- and simple, a Ngaitahu. His mother likewise died, and the father again remarried into his own tribe. All this time he and his.wive.s lived with the. Ngatiirmmoo at Otakau (Otago Heads). Feeling his. own end approachikig, Taiaroa tagged that his widow, with the son br the previous marriage, might Ix? allowed fo continue occupancy, of the Otago Heads property during; the life of the widow. The request was granted, not as a tribal right, lint as a mere personal obligation. When oventuatly the son got into Parliament, ho. got the car of Jhe Government, and from that time forward aJI right, title, and (interest of the ancient Ngatimamoe seems to have merged into tint of the more recent Ngaitahu.

Mr Batbgale then goes on to relate two iiicudonts which lie says occurred in tiro neighbourhood of what is now Duncdin. both being of importance in its early history. What purports to havo been a sanguinary conflict between two tribes—the name of neither being given.—at Purakanui, is related. The dale is sot down at six generations. Ho does not say the number of years he allows for each generation, but I take it for granted he ascrilws what 1s now tho popular acceptation— viz., 20 yeans. What is hero referred to is, I believe, known in South Island Maori tradition as "Kai-huanga feud." _ lis specialties .arc these: When hostilities were suspended consequent upon tho amalgamation mentioned above, Ngaitahu, like the proverbial Irishman, got " blue moulded for want of a Iwating." Being unable to find a suitable adversary, the case became desperate, and tliey set .to work and had a fight amongst themselves,. The theatre of the conflict was Tua-mutu. So serious did it become that ono hapu carried hostilities to tire extromo point of cannibalism. Even among man-catere devouring one's own relations was deemed odious, ami that is the meaning as given. Having claims on 'l'aiaroa, ono of the hapus summoned the Southerners to their aid. The summons was obeyed, and in duo course an army of fighting men, with Taiaroa at its head, made its appearance. That is said to have'been the first occasion uponwhich, firearms made their appearance in southern Maori warfare. Two rusty old firelocks comprised this armament, and so loudly did they explode that they produced universal consternation. Between tho two belligerents Taiaroa managed to patch up a precarious peace. £o precarious was it that he took the further precaution of taking one of the contending hapus along with him back to Otago. He left them for safety at Puraiamii, where they became.permanent residents. That I believe is the real fact of the story, told by Mr Bathgate, and although .there are "whips" of fighting, hanging to it, none of these fighte took/ place at ftitakajiui. In support of hia <*>Bsxtsb*i Ml

Bathgate dies the name "Purakanui," tq which Tie ataohca as its meaning "heaped up," thereby inferring that such was character of the slaughter. I don't think there is such a word as " Purakanui"-. at least, I have failed to find tracea, of it. 'What I bcliovo it should bo id .Purakau-nui, which signifies the abodo o( elderly men- of. high rank or mana. Whaka. Ahu aro 'the only words I know of that can bo made to fit into "heaped up." i My suggestion, then, is that the "Purakamti battle," with its "heaped up" slain is * ,myth, and that the name should be Purakaumii,- and that it owes the name to the fact that it was at some time or other rangatira—abode of the proud Ngafimamoo, Mr Bathgate's second tradition can bo spoken of more definitely. It deals with a, New. Zealand incident which, in the hands' /of Mr Bathgate's countryman, Walter Scott, Bart., would make rousing romance. It devolops on tho lino, of ill-starred love, •blood-curdling adventure, and dramatic en-' tertainment; tlie situation fitting into a groove of historical narrative equal to that of " Waverloy," " Old Mortality." " The .Bride of Lammormoor." or other, being tho penmanship of this wizard of tho north. i Its recital is not, however, necessary to these presents, and the brief sketch given by'Mr Bathgate will suflice.-I am. etc., Eo. fJAiinies.