POOR KNIGHTS ISLANDS.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16644, 14 November 1925, Page 5

POOR KNIGHTS ISLANDS.

OLD-TIME LEGENDS. FARMER INHABITANTS. 1 ISLANDS DECLARED TAPU. It is related that on the 25th. November, 17G9, Captain Cook, when making his way along the north-east coast of New Zealand, discovered some islands where there were cultivated lands and fortified towns. To these Captain Cook gave 'the name of the “Poor Knights." This group, lying in the Tasman Sea twenty-six miles north-north-east of Whangarei Heads and fifteen miles from the nearest mainland, comprises two main islands, having an area of 31S and IG3 acres respectively, and several small islets and isolated rocks. A narrow passage divides the two principal islands, which lie in a north-and-south direction. A visitor to the- group, Mr W. M. Fraser, says that according to reliable Information obtained from the old Maoris living on the adjacent coast, the Poor Knights Islands were inhabited for many generations by a population of some three hundred to four hundred. The northern and larger island of the two, named Tawhiti Rahi, was occupied by a sub-tribe or hapu called Ngatiwai, with Tuaho as their chief, while the Ngatitoki hapu, with their chief Tatua, lived on the southern island, which was called Aorangi. The chief Tatua was ruler over both islands. In calm weather Aorangi offered fairly easy landings in two places for canoes, but, owing 'to the precipitous nature of the cliffs surrounding Tawhiti Rahi, the canoes of those islanders would* on the approach of bad weather, be lifted by ropes from the sea. Pigs, obtained from Captain Cook, were bred and kept on Aorangi only, and were used principally as barter when dealing with the mainland people for totara 'timber, which was used largely by the islanders in the building of canoes, dwellings and fortifications. About the year 1808 a party of natives belonging to the Hikutu tribe, from Hokianga, paid a visit to Aorangi and requested to be supplied with pigs, but they were ordered off emptyhanded without being allowed to land.. Soon after this incident it happened that Tatua and his warriors from the Poor Knights joined the notorious Hongi Hika on a fighting expedition to the Hauralci Gulf. Immediately after their departure a slave named Paha went in a small canoe from Aorangi to the mainland, and, losing no time in reaching the Hikutu settlement, informed the chief Waikato of the absence from the islands of the fighting men, and advised an immediate raid for the purpose of securing pigs and slaves, etc. 'Acting without delay on Paha’s information, Waikato, with three large war canoes, set out via the North Cape for the Poor Knights, a distance of two hundred miles. Arriving at the islands early in the night, the raiders were piloted by the traitor Paha to the best landing, and the wholesale 'massacre of the defenceless inhabitants commenced. It took the fight night and all of the following day to kill the islanders, many of wnom jumped from the high cliffs into tne sea. Losing no time in collecting theii booty, the Hikutu people made off, carrying with them as captives Tatua’s , wife Oneho and her daughter. At Whangaroa they rested for twentyfour hours, being entertained by the local people in the whare tapere, w ae-e a haka and other ceremonies were performed. While this entertainment was in progress, Tango, a chief, and other local rangitira, asked to be shown the slaves, when Tango immediately recognised Oneho as a distant relative, and that night he effected the escape of the two women to Kerilteri, whence they were conveyed by canoe to friends at Rawhiti, in the Bay of Islands. In due course, Tatua returned to his island home from the Hauraki venture, and was filled with horror on finding what had taken place in his absence. He was met at the landing on Aorangi by nine or ten people, including his five-year-old son Wehiwehi and an old man, Omanoa, who had saved the infant son by concealing him in a c-ave during the massacre, these being the only survivors of the two island communities. Tatua, with his men, performed what last rites he could over those of the slain that could be found, declared the islands to be strictly tapu, and proceeded to Rawhiti, where he unexpectedly found his wife and daughter. Since that time the islands hav« never been inhabited, nor were they ever claimed as native land. Years after, the group became a lighthouse reserve, and in addition has recently been set aside for scenic purposes and as a sanctuary for the rare and interesting flora and fauna it contains. Old-Time Occupation. In 1915 the writer first visited the Poor Knights, landing on both islands and making a hurried exploration of the southern island, which was found to be the more accessible of the two. Every living creature observed showed little fear of man. The large crab (papaka-rerepari of the Maori) lined up on the rocky landing place in scores and regarded the stranger with seeming curiosity. The Korimako, or bellbird, of which there were thousands, were met with on the edge of the forest, and formed a charming escort almost within reach of the hand throughout the visit. The wild pig. whose destructive work was in evidence in all directions, was the next to greet the visitor; two grown sows with young hardly stopped their rooting, although they were approached within a few yards. The young ones sniffed the air and showed a little concern, but the mothers, whose forbears had probably never seen a human being for over one hundred years, were quite indifferent. If any fear did exist on that occasion it was certainly not with the pigs, especially when an old boar was heard close by. (To be continued.)