A PEEP INTO THE PAST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 40, 2 October 1911, Page 2

A PEEP INTO THE PAST.

THE ORIGINAL DISCOVERY Of NEW ZEALAND.

AN INTERESTING LECTURE

The mystery with which the original discovery of New Zealand has always been enshrouded was, to a great

extent, elucidated bv Mr S. Percy

Smith, F.R.G.S., president of the Polynesian Society, in the course of a lecture delivered at the inaugural meeting of the Wanganui Philosophical Society, which was held in the Museum Hall last Tuesday evening. Mr Smith, after congratulating the society on its formation, said that the full title of his address was “The Original Discovery of New Zealand in the 9th-10th Century.” It was not possible to give exact dates; records which calculated time by generations prevented that, but the information at their disposal was accurate enough to enable them to iix the period within a hundred years. Probably 90 polecat of the population would accord the credit of discovering these islands to Tasman, but he would show that such was not the case . When Tasman, as far back as 1(312, sailed into the Bay which bears his name, he was astonished to find the country inhabited by a warlike race, who did not hesitate to attack him in their canoes; therefore, it was impossible to “discover” a land that was already settled. So much for Tasman’s claims. Centuries ago' a Polynesian people—of which the Maoris are a branch—of no mean mental attainments, undoubtedly had their existence in the East Indies. As was only to be expected, communication in an archipelago such as this was entirely by water, and the inhabitants naturally became exports in navigation, and accustomed to make fairly lengthy voyages to the more distant islets of the group. That formed the first link of the chain.’ The Maoris—for so tliev

must now be termed—apparently spread by easy stages from island to

island ; through the land-locked waters of what is now known as the Malay Archipelago, to the Fiji and Solomon groups, where records show that they

were in possession about the 6th cen-

tury. But the “wander-lust” was not to be quenched, and the migrations went on year after year, till the dominion of these hardy mariners extended even to the far-distant Tahitian and Society Islands. Voyages of 3000 miles were frequently made, often for no other purpose than of a friendly visit. Then, about the 9th century, there arose a chief named Kupe, and it is to him alone that the credit of discovering New Zealand belongs. The traditions are particularly clear on this point, and, though pregnant with mythical legend—one legend has it that, this long voyage acioss the waters of the Bacifib was the outcome of the 1 pursuit of an octopus with an ajWrdvating habit of annexing / the bait ! 1 from fishermen's hooks— state clearly that Kupo', toge. ther .with his wife, four daughters, and a crew of 72, embarked on the trip which culminated in the only admissible discovery 1 of this Dominion. His canoe was similar to those at

present in use in the Solomon and other islands, in that its stability was assured by means of an outriggerin reality a smaller canoe—and the space between was planked over, llieia were two masts, and principal reliance was placed upon sails made of rushes sewn together ,and triangular in shape. Paddles, however, were pressed into service when the wind was unfavourable.' In this frail craft the venturesome little band fought their way across an unknown sea.' One day Kupc’s wife, who ■.‘••is standing in the bow, startled the crew by exclaiming, “Aotea-i oa A “A long white cloud!”). That was New Zealand. Kupe landed near North Cape, and proceeded as far as Hokianga Harbour, on the West Coast, and then, retracing his course, sailed down to where Wellington now stands on the oast, calling in for provisions at Castlepoint, and bestowing names on each stopping-place; According to the records; it. was while fishing from a rock at Castlepoint that Kupe got the first glimpse of the snow-capped

summits of the South Island. Porirua beach was next visited, and the canoe’s original stone anchor replaced by a more suitable substitute The marvellous accuracy of the records, said Mr Smith, was borne out by the fact that the discarded anchor lay on the shore, through ten centuries, until some two years ago, when it wi« removed to the Wellington Museum! where it now lies, Resuming the :ourlun the canoe’s bow was turned southward, and the South Island made in due course . Greenstone was discovered, and taken back to Harotonga, portions in the shape of axeheads and ornaments being brought back to New Zealand by visiting parties in later years. .North again came this dusky explorer, and entered the Wanganui River, up which he sailed 1 considerable distance. Wanganui, pr to give it Us Moari spelling, Whangauni, means a great bay, and the traditions show that such a bay, extending, nearly up to where the town now stands, was encountered by Kupe and liis little hand at a time when England was in the hands of the Saxons, and the Norman invasion had yet to come. 'I hroughont their long sojourn in New Zealand these intruders from over the Pacilic had seen no sign of human life; the country was absolutely uninhabited. Shortly alter this Kupe sailed on the return journey to Rarotonga, accomplishing the 2400 miles in safety. He took with him full information for future voyagers, which must have been very favourable, for, about the 12th century, another canoe-load emulated his example, and landed in New Zealand. But the country was no longer free of entrance to any that willed. A party ol Melanesians, a darker-skinned race who must not be confounded with

the Polynesians, had been blown out of their course by contrary winds, and landed in the North Island, and, apparently recognising the futility of attempting to return over unknown waters, settled peaceably enough in their adopted country. These people remained in undisputed possession until the advent of the second party of Maoris. The inevitable lighting commenced, the hardier Polynesians proving superior to their opponents. It was war to the death ; the adult males of the vanquished were slaughtered without quarter by the invaders, who, however, according to their custom, absorbed the women into their own community, a blending of the two races resulting. This explained any small differences which the present natives-of New Zealand might possess from the Fijians and Rarotongans. The remnant of the conquered seeing that their only salvation laid in flight, ijiiade their way to the Chatham Islands, and the Morioris of to-day are their descendants. Undisturbed by invaders, the Maoris flourished in the land, rapidly extending their explorations until both the North and South Islands bore a prosperous population. Then came the all-conquering whites. The chronicler discarded his ancient records and traditions, and the printed page of history then took up the story.

Mr Smith concluded his address amidst applause. He was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.