RESULT OF TAPU

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26774, 18 May 1948, Page 6

RESULT OF TAPU

PORT WAIKATO DISABLEMENT FIRM CONVICTION HELD P.A. f WELLINGTON, May 17. Members of the crew of the Port Waikato stated on arrival in tow from the Chathams that Maoris placed a tapu on the vessel because of the presence on board of an archaeologist, Miss C. Jefferson, who had been engaged in research on Moriori relics in the Chathams and was a passenger on the vessel with the results of her investigations. Older members of the crew, in traditional superstition, believe the ship's accident to be a result of this. A passenger who was a resident of the Chathams said the Maoris there had probably not been openly hostile to Miss Jefferson while she was working on the islands, but they resented the remains and relics of the Moriori civilisation being disturbed. He said .that with three other people who had carried out similar research work on the islands, he believed predictions of misfortune had been borne out. One lost his baggage and the results of his work, and another, Mr Alex. Shand, had died when his hut was burned on the island../ The Maoris, he said, adopted an attitude that what relics and history of the Morioris remained were better left undisturbed. Miss Jefferson confirmed that she had been informed before the Port Waikato sailed that the local Maoris had put a tapu on the ship. Beyond that she had no comment to make. She had previously carried out archaeological research in Scotland. She said the Morioris were much more interesting people than they were generally given credit for, and their art was of a higher order than previously thought. She would return to the Chathams for further research, Miss Jefferson said.