MAORI NOMENCLATURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14447, 13 February 1909, Page 14

MAORI NOMENCLATURE

EARLY HISTORY OP OTAGO. By W, If. S. Roiierts. No. V.-TIIE MOLYNEUX (Continued). Just outside the bar ot the Molyneux River is Willslier Bay, named after a very early settler, who arrived here from Sydney in l&tl). Air lto. Oarrick writes: "Between 1820 and 1540 Thomas Jones, a merchant in Sydney, claimed to have purchased from the Native owners 307.C0D acres of land, of which 256,000 acres were, situated at the Molyneux. Jones chartered the brig Porienia, 221 tons, which entered out from Sydney for 'Molinux' Bay, New Zealand, with cattle. Besides Jones himself, she carried us passengers George Wiltshire, William Bessent, Conning, and Russell. Willshire represented T. Jones as resident agent. lW:ent represented two men named Cruickshanffs and Cohen, who were jointly interested with Jones in the venture. Conning represented an area of 7000 acres imrchased from Jones. Russell was most likely another purchaser. The voyage occupied four weeks, and, meeting with bad weather, their stock suffered . severely. Several of the stock were landed in June, 1840, including one cow in calf. This appears to have been the first shipment of cattle to Otago." Motlvaieux in those days was pronounced an it still is in England, Moli-noks, or Alolinux, the x being sounded. Willslier married a Maori girl named Makariri (frost), a splendid swimmer, and thus 'acquired a right to some land. Many years afterwards he obtained a Crown grant for 20 acres of land at the month of the Korero River, facing the' l*ay, and sheltered on throe sides by iintivo bush. About 1695 it was purchased as a recreation ground for tho residents at Port Molyneux, and vested in trustees. Thero was a small bush at Willslier Bay, erroneously called Arikiki, the proper Alaori name being Awa-kiko, meaning the stream of flesh. The littlo lay north-west of Tokala Point is Paruu-riki (tho small slave).

Toka-ta means rooks dashed down, or rocks standing im out of the water. The latter is a very appropriate interpretation, as thero are a lot of isolated rocks in tho sea off the point. Its English name is tho Nuggets. A lighthouse of stone was built on it in 1869, the road to which passes over ICaka Point, which is six miles from Romahap, near Willslier Bay. A village has sprung up at Kaka Point. There is a store, which is also the post and telephone office, and several cottages, chiefly used as summer residences. Between WilWier Bay and Nugget Point are three little bays, known as Short, Shark, and Nugget Bays, and south of tfio point is Roaring Bay. A Echool near Willslier Bay was christened Reo-moana by the Education Board. It is riot an original Maori name, but is a very suitable one for 6uch a position, as it means "the voice of the sea," which is loud enough whan a north-east wind drives gnat waves, dashing and foaming, on lo the beach. A school six miles from Owaka has named Taha-tika (the coast line). There is a funning settlement, with a school and post office, alm.it 15 miles from Owaka named Pu-rekireki, meaning "a. tuft of grass in n swamp," on the left of the vnllev, unf'«r the sharp poinfed hill, the "Wisp" (2257 ft hi;<]>). A Presbyterian Church was built there in 1897. A river and new settlement. 14 mibs west of Owaka. in a valuable forest, which is being ruthlessly destroyed, is Taha-kopa. Tvha means "a calabash,' 1 "missel," or "lo puss on one sids." Knpa, "rapid," "a corner," " lam?," or "an oven." The first person who took im land for a farm nt Tnha-kcoii was >fr Gideon Sc.tt, The Education Board built a school th"re, and a dairy factory was started in JB9ft. Tau-hu-ku-tm (a Inland's message) i,-. 17 miles from Owaka. Rntanni (big rata tree) is five miles from Owaka Railway Station, in Mackenzie's Valley, and has a dniry fnctnrv in full wort A school was built in IBDS at Ts.ra.ra (distant or far off), four miles from Roto-nui. Mr Albert Humphrey White was tho first t \icbcr unpointed, and he held the portion for two years. Mokamoka (a variety of lirard) is a wl Moment started in 1896 at tho junction of Catlins and Owaka Rivers.

CATLINS. The Maori name of Cutlins Itiver was Pou-nawea (a post that was set on (ire). "Kata," in the Olago Witness said: "I would liko to say a, few words about tho beauts surrounding that growing and popular seaside resort Pounawea, at the foot of Catlins Lake, about two miles from Owak-t. The beautiful surroundings of this place are beyond description. Shooting, fishing, boating, and, in the summer, sea. bathing are all in evidence. Tho charming rata trees in blconi add splendour to the scene. An enterprising resident (Mr Kollberg) ha s lately added to the accommodation a large summer residence capable of providing for 50 visitors." Another tributary of Catlins is Pupa-tupii (to grow on the flat). A hill 10 miles above Collins bridge, 1474 ft high on which survey trig peg Q is plao:d, is Tultc-tiro (hill view, or to look at a hill). Catlins Harbour has been renamed Ncwhaven Harbour, since tho Government township surveyed there has bsen f o named. Kahu-ika (a fish on the surface) is the jioint of land between the M'J.-eiuian and Taha-kopa Kivers at their junction (.sometimes spelt Taha-lair.u-Talia, "a calabash"; kapu, "the hollow of the hand"). The Tahakopa is a larger river than tho M'Lennau, bsmg about 100 yds wide at ihc junction and for some distance inland is a wido sheet of water. About 13 miles front Owak.i Station h tlia Crown settlement Purakau-iti (a little old man), or Pu-rakau-iti (a small heap of sticks); also Houi-napa (Iho laoehark tree, flat), six miles and a-halt from Owaka, Ikwi-papa Hailway Station is about two miles soulh of Catlin's Railway Station. These two now settlements, together with one at Puaho (a boisterous shout), are in Woodland district, block IX, at one lime a lovely forest, which is ruefully disappearing by prodigal destruction. While. Island, at the mouth of (.'af.lin's River, was Opito (tho navel), which is also the name of tho wonderful and peculiar " blowhole." The proper translation of blowhole into Maori would bo ltuapohu. Tho Catlins blowhole is a most remarkable sight, A largo pit 100 ft long, 160 ft to 180 ft deep, and 40ft wide, surrounded by dense scrub and lofty forest trees, the perpendicular skies of solid rock fringed with shrubs and hands},m? ferns. Into the bottom of this pit tlio sea rushes with a loud roar, through a subu-rranciin tunnel loiycls in length, over boulders which roll about with every ri*h of water, forming in stormy weather a foaming cauldron of dialling spray.

A hill inland from White Island, 1182 ft high, is Hinahina, the white-wood troe (Molicytus ramidorus]. Tabic Hill was Tiiu-le-]wre (behind tho arrow). Tho south head of Cat lin's Bay is Ohilo Point, or probably Ohiti (cautious; to be on one's guard). liong Point was Iri-httTia (hanging with foam), spelt by Ifalswell Erehaka. A small bay and river a few miles south of Catlins are Tau-kupu tlliy word). Tuu-tuku (bent downwards, or to stoop) is the name of the vast forest 40 miles long by an average of 15 in breadth, reaching from Cntlins to Wttikawa, and far inland to tho Forest Kauge. Also the name of a river and bay north-east of Ch island's Mistake, and a mountain 2192Fi high. A Crown improved farm settlement was started at F.imu in 1895, consisting of 1600 acres.

Mr Fred Tuekeht.' \niting of this part of the coast, says: "The Tautuke and Tapuke Valleys are localities for wonderful stories. They sc.y the eels nsremi tho falls unitedly in a train, intertwining with each other, when the Maoris catch ibem in great numbers. The Maoris also declare that (.here are hairy giants who inhabit a mountain near these valleys. Thoy call tlicm Miroroi, am! have a great dread of tlicm."

Dr David Monro, who visited Murihiku in 1844, thus wrote: "Mind Toutuku a visitor may explore t-ho niouiitain dreaded by the Natives on account of ite being the favourite residence of the Mairooro. This is a wild man of the woods, strong, cunning, and mischievous, a.:ul addicted to running off with young; people and damsels. His body is covered with coarse and long hair, which also (lows down from the back or" his bead nearly to his heels. To compensate for this excessive quantity behind, his forehead is said to be bald. Ho was vividly described to u s by a Maori who Imd seen one long ago, when he was a littlo boy, and was of opinion thot •there is not a more fearful wild fowl than the Mairoeio living." They arc cannibals, and are sometimes called Miromiro, which is also (ho name of a small bird (the pied tit).

Dr James Hector, writing in 1863. said: "Tlio coast, between Tokafa Point, and Tautttku, sometimes erroneously spelt Tautawku Bay. is picturesque, being wooded and precipitous, with numerous indentation?. The cliffs, which rise to an average height of 270 ft, are composed of stratified rock (greenstones, porphyretic conglomerates, and felspathic snivels-tones) dipping to northeast with from 12dcg io Efjdcg inclination to the horizon. At I/Ong Point, however, these strata form a lofty eearp, which is continued westward into the interior, and forms the northern boundary of a vallcv. South-west of this the coast has a less bold character, and presents a greater extent, of available laud contiguous with the shore." Between Ion:/ Pom'" and Tautuktt is Mahaka (many dancer). At (ho south end of : the TSwtuta BtMcb. there is an old-timo bursal ground, in which Mr/ several- Maori

graves. At t!io head of cno of these there is a slab of Australian cedar, with tiio m--6oription, "Sacred to tho memory of Temuc, who departed this life [September 25, lfj'lu.'' Near the mouth of the Taniuku River was the whaling station .started by William Palmor in 1839 for John Jones. It is re--1 ortod ll'.at Palmer stocked a small island off the north head of Tautuku Bay with rabbits. Mr Frederick Tucket t mentions the island in In? diary, and says, on May 8, 1641. that it was "well stocked with rabbin;. - The name of the island wa s Rerekohu (flying; mist), .now called Rainbow Island.

In my article on "Maori Nomenclature" which appeared in tho Ofago Daily Times f on January 14 the name of the Omakau | Railway Station was mentioned, and I ex- I pressed a wish to know the correct inter-1 probation of it. Mr Alexander Bathgate , lias kindly sent me a memo, which he received £ro/n Mr Burnett, saying:—" I translate Ouia-kau 'the swift ford,' but it is a j pukoha name; had it been Maori it would j liave been Kau-oma." That is so. In i Maori the adjective always follows the noun. Probably the name was given to a crossing in tlira river by some early squatter. Errata. Two clerical errors unfortunately appeared in Article No. iv, on February 2. In paragraph 8, Messrs BnTr brothers should bs

" Messrs Begg brothers," and in paragraph 9 Edgur Gibson should read "John Gibson."