THE POHUI TANIWHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 63

THE POHUI TANIWHA.

By W. F. Young.

1 On the road to Taupo, 28 miles from , Napier, a sudden turn of the road (and there are a ojood many sudden turns on that road) opens out a beautiful little lake — a

perfect gem, as clear as a mirror, lying in a hollow in the hills. It is about 14 acres

in extent, nearly square in shape, ending at its lower end in a large raupo swamp. On its northern side there are some stragj gling remains of green bush ; on the other ; two sides the slopes have been covered j with manuka scrub. That, too, has hod to J give way to the axe and the fire stick. It must have been indeed a lovely spot before the pakeha started his ill-advised improvements. It was my lot to finct employment with Mr Joseph King, the owner of the run I on which the lake is situated, and the I 'former landlord of the Travellers' Rest, Po1 hui. This hotel was burned on January _ 1, 1898, and the present Lake Hotel was in course of erection during my stay there the following winter. One evening I overheard some conversation between Mr King and another man about the island being out, and on inquiring they told me there was a floating island on the lake ; further, that it was a sure sign of rain when it came out. Next Sunday morning I wenfc along to see for myself. Yes, sure enough, there was a pretty little island right in the centre of the lake. I got away round to the side next the road to get as near jas x^ossible. By the time I reached the shore the island had got away nearer the other side. I made my way round the head 1 of the lake to get nearer to it, but by the

time I got round it Bad drifted nearer the side I had left. Mi King had told me the Maoris called it " taniwha," which means something uncanny (lo use a Scotch word). It seemed as if the thing were

avoiding me. I sat down for a little to watch it. There happened to be some trees between me and the lake ; yes, undoubtedly it was moving. It gradually got away farther from me, and as I was making my way up the ridge towards home it had disappeared.

On questioning Mr King's sons about it,, they told me that sometimes they would not see it for nearly a year, and they thought it sank. This seemed to me rather improbable. King himself thought it got in about the side and was not discernible from the raupo of the shore. He had been on it, and at one time he thought of anchoring it in the middle, but, thinking he ■would spoil it, he refrained from doing so.

The next time I saw it, it was near the shore, next the road. I hurried round, and found it about three yards out. As I stood watching, it gently floated towards me till I could reach my hand and catch hold of the raujao. I could have stepped on to it, but it would have meant wet feet at the least, and probably a sail on the lake of uncertain duration, perhaps getting landed in the raupo swamp, where there was no footing so thought it best to let the taniwha alone.

The last Sunday I was at Pohui I went to have a look for it. I examined the northern shore and the raupo at the lower end, but could see nothing of it. I followed round the head of the lake, and after nearly making the circuit of the lake I was coming to the conclusion that it liad disappeared, and that it really was something uncanny after all, when I found it neatly fitted into the shore. But for some rails that were lying on it I should have missed it. The most uncanny thing about it is its floating against the wind. We discussed that, too, and someone suggested currents, but I cannot see how there could be currents, as the inflow is next to nothing — only a few springs around the upr>er end. In summer it takes it all to make up for evaporation, and the outflow is only a dribble, while the depth is nothing to speak of — about 16ft in the middle, shoaling to the sides. It must be taniwha.

In conclusion, anyone wishing to investigate can find comfortable accommodation at the Lake Hotel. For anyone -wanting a change far from the madding crowd, I know of no better place in the colony. Pohui is over 1300 ft above sea level. The air is fresh and bracing, there is a good trout stream and also fish in the lake, and the genial landlady, Mrs Joshua, is excellent company. It is her wish to beautify the place and make it attractive, and any of my readers who can send hber some watermy readers who can send her some waterthe taniwha may rest assured their kindness Avill be greatly appreciated. Hillgrove, January 8.