AN HISTORIC SPOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1924, Page 6

AN HISTORIC SPOT.

SCENE OF THE CENOTAPH. ■ A MAORI FIGHTING PAH. LATER THE SIGNAL STATION. The ground on which the cenotaph stands is a very historical spot, and it is fitting that such a site should have been selected. It was known formerly as Mount Eliot, and in the early surfboat days of New Plymouth it was the signal station. In later years the hill was removed to provide level ground for the extension of the town and the building of the railway.

Previous to the days of settlement in New Plymouth there was a large Maori palisaded fighting pah situated on the top of thia hill. It was known as PukeAriki. Large numbers of natives lived here, and all the lands around the hill were used for cultivating kum'aras, taro and such crops. In about the year 1532, Puke-Ariki pah was finally abandoned by the natives when they removed to Otaka or Nga Motu Pah, now occupied by the freezing works near the Breakwater. The Taranaki natives abandoned this ancient pah when one of the big raids by the Waikato natives was threatened. In the bygone days the Maoris believed that the excellent crops of kumaras obtained were due to the mana (prestige) of their god Rongo, with whom the priests of old interceded for a bounteous season. Stone representations of the god Rongo were fairly common in Taranaki, and at planting time these were often buried in the plot to assure speedy growth and a heavy crop. One of the most noted of these carved kumara gods was found while excavations were being carried out by Europeans at Puke-Arik i pah. It has been claimed that this stone was brought to New Zealand by the Maoris ift one of their canoes of the migration in the year 1350 or thereabouts. The stone was sent to the Nelson Museum, and from it a cast has been secured, which may be seen at tht? museum in New Plymouth.