TAIPARI'S MAORI HOUSE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2437, 6 October 1876, Page 3

TAIPARI'S MAORI HOUSE.

It may be in the memory of some of our readers that about two years ago the Hon. Sir Donald McLean, the Native Minister, visited a large native settlement on the East Coast, called Whakatane, and that whilst he was there the natives of that place took advantage of the opportunity of ; the visit of such a notable personage to carry out tho opening and conseoration services connected with a large carved house called " Tama te Kapua," which they had just finished building. Tbe house was of enormous dimensions, and was most bountifully ondowed' . with . specimens of Maori carving, both artistic and otherwise. Amongst the many admirers of this now-famed house was Te Hotereni Taipari (father of W. H. Taipari,: so well known on the Thames), who was at the time paying a visit, to tho Ngatiawa-, or Whakatane natives, and who, like niany of his' European .brothers, after having ouce seen anything that takes their fanoy, they are at once filled with a desire to become possessed of.the same. In fact, this beautiful house, with its curious Maori carving stillmore curiously ornamented with the sparkling shell of the pawa, had evidently taken the old man's fancy, and as (thanks to the Thames goldfield) it was not a question of money, To Hotereni Taipari determined that, seeing he could not have that particular house, he would at least have one like it, and an order was at once given to the Ngatiawa tribe to build a house for Taipari at Hauraki for—l dare not say how much—but its hundreds, any way. This, being a Maori house, must of course be built according to Maori fashion, and Ngatiawa determined to get out the large posts for the centre of the house, and carve them at their own settlement. These will shortly bo sent up here by sailing vessel. Having advanced thus far, it was decided that the Thames itself must supply tho rafters and ridgo-pole, so some short time ago about twenty of the " contractors" arrived herefrom Whatawi lo complote that part of the work, and for some time past they have been working in the bush near the Hauraki Sawmill. The ridge-pole, which is ofkahikatca, is some 80 feet long by 3 foet thick, was yesterday dragged out of the centre of tho Tiirua bush by Taipari and his people, numbering nearly 100, and this morning they towed it down to Shortland wharf, where it now lies. As the house isjto be built some where adjacent to the old cricket ground iat Shortland, it will be necessary tho natives to move it once more, am| drag' it to its place of destination. This they will do this morning at about 9 o'clock, when they will jog along -with it in old Maori fashion, which is to drag it along over skids placed along the street for the purpose. The ceremony, of course, to be accompanied with the customary Maori shouting, dancing, and grimaoing.