NGAMOTU AND LOCALITY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1933, Page 7

NGAMOTU AND LOCALITY

GREAT HISTORICAL INTEREST POSSIBILITY OF A RESERVE. ADDRESS BY MR. W. H. SKINNER. Describing the locality as one of the most interesting on the Taranaki coast, Mr. W. H. Skinner yesterday addressed the New Plymouth Rotary Club on Ngamotu, the name covering territory between the Waitapu and Herekawe streams and embracing the islands nearby. The locality occupied a prominent place in the life of the early Maoris, and such explorers as Captain Cook and the Frenchman Marion mentioned the sugar-loaves in their logs. The first of the Europeans to settle in North Taranaki landed in the shadow of Paritutu. It was in January, 1770, that Captain James Cook first sighted the sugar loaves and mentioned them as such in his log as he was passing by, said Mr. Skinner. He called them sugar loaves on account of their likeness to West Indian sugar as it was then made up. Two years later the French explorer Marion sighted them. When Tasman passed along the coast in 1642 he did not see them as it . was night time and very stormy. EARLY MAORI HISTORY. 1 There was no doubt that Kupe, the Maori navigator who reached New Zealand from Tahiti about 950, also saw the locality as tradition gave him credit for passing down the rocky coast southwards from Warea. Owing to the fact that he had difficulty in beaching his canoe through the rocky nature of that coastline, the territory was called O-rongo-mai-te-Kupe, and Kupe is said to have stated that the coast was uninhabited. Mr. Skinner thought that was doubtful, as Toi, another Maori who visited the same part in 1150, found it well populated. According to tradition, the first inhabitants were castaways thrown up on the shores by storms. Paritutu was well named, he continued. "Pari” was the Maori for cliff, and “tutu” for up-rising, or sheer. Outlines of the fortified pa or village named Motu-o-Tamatea were still to be seen at the eastern base. Within that pa was situated one of the chief houses of learning for the Taranaki tribes. It was named “Taunga-tapu,” taunga meaning to become familiarised with, and tapu meaning sacred. The specially chosen young men were there acquainted with the traditions and 'beliefs of the tribe.

It was interesting to know that people actually lived on Paritutu, Mr. Skinner continued. The summit was pallisaded and there were many large ruas on the level places for the storage of food. Down the upper portion of the western face the remains of terraces could still be seen, and whares were built there. Water came from a spring on the western side. “The place was occupied for centuries,” remarked Mr. Skinner. “How they ever managed to bring up their children it is impossible for us to imagine. It was finally deserted in 1835.” On the site of the present dairy produce grading store at Ngamotu, continued Mr. Skinner, a large Maori pa named Otaka was once situated. The last stronghold of the Ngamotu people to withstand the onslaughts of the invading Waikatos was the Mikotahi pa where the present signal station stands. It was captured in 1835. According to the descriptions of those Europeans who saw the locality in the early days, the island of Moturoa was the last place of refuge for the old Maoris when some invader had driven them out of their pas on the mainland. The remains of the terraces that stretched to the summit of the island could still be seen. It was on the rocky shelf facing the present breakwater that the fleeing Maoris would draw up their canoes after leaving the mainland. INTEREST TO BOTH RACES. The Waitapu stream entered the beach near Bayly Road, and it was in the lagoon, the last of which could still be seen, that the old Maoris were in the habit of throwing then' small children in order that they might learn to swim. When Mr. Skinner was a boy the lagoon was much larger and was even then a popular place for swimmers. Round it were many large whale bones, telling of the activities of the early whalers. Living on the Egimont Road opposite the Waiwakaiho golf links was a direct descendant o”f Wliiro, a celebrated Maori navigator of the 13th century, who sailed from Tahiti to Oakura, and who also lived at Ngamotu in the very early days, said Mr. Skinner. He mentioned another navigator called Tama-ahua, who was insulted at Oakura and sailed off back to Tahiti.

The Ngamotu locality was therefore of the greatest historical interest to both races, said Mr. Skinner in conclusion, and he was glad to know that there was some likelihood of Paritutu and the islands to the west being made a reserve and placed -under the jurisdiction of the borough for safe-keeping. He was sorry such a step had not 'been taken 30 years ago.