A Famous War Canoe.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 4, 22 January 1913, Page 33

A Famous War Canoe.

Tapiri’s Axe,” in the Auckland Museum — Incidents of the Olden Days.

/ ANY people have viewed with Ilk admiration the great Maori / ) Z war-canoe which forms one of / the principal exhibits in the Maori Hall of the Auckland Museum, but very few are aware of its interesting, even thrilling, history. Not only is “Te Toki-a-Tapiri,” or “Tapiri's Axe,” as it was named by th? Maoris, the finest 'specimen of native naval architecture now in existence, but its story is one that takes one right back to the wild old days of the early forties when New Zealand was Maori Land indeed. The canoe is eighty-four feet in length, with a beam of about six feet, and is beautifully decorated bow and stern

with carved figure-head and stern-post. It has been in the Museum since 1885, when it was presented to the institution by the New Zealand Government, through the late Hon. W. Rolleston. The story of the big canoe lias been compiled from several sources. Bishop Williams, of W'aiapu, who is one of the highest Maori authorities living, is responsible for the information about its building, and the late Judge Fenton, of the Native Land Court, and Judge H. A. H. Munro, of the same tribunal, gave its subsequent history, dealing chiefly with the period of the Waikato war. Mr T. !•’. Cheeseman, Curator of the Museum, has these records in full from the authorities quoted. The Building of the Canoe. “This war-canoe,” says the Venerable Bishop Williams, of Waiapu (recently retired from that See), “was built shortly after the year 1840. It was the handiwork of tlw Ngati-Matawhaiti, a hapu of Ngati-Kahungunu, who live at the upper 8

end of the W’hakaki lagoon, near the Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay. The chief of the hapu was Te Waaka Tarakau, after whose ancestor, Ta pi pi. the canoe was named. The ‘Tauawa,” or topsides of the canoe, were fitted by or under direction of Taniati Parangi and Paratene Te Pahoi. The canoe, being then unadorned by any elaborate carving, was presented by Tarakau to Te Waaka Perohuka, of the Rongo-whaka-ata tribe, at Poverty Bay, receiving in return a garment called ‘Karamaene.’ The carving of the canoe was executed at Te Angaparera, on the left bank of the Waipaoa river, nearly opposite to Orakaiapu Pa. The principal Tohungas engaged in the work were To Waaka Perohuka, Tinioti Rangitotohi-

kura, Wiremu te Keteiwi, Patorounu Pakapaka, Natanahira, Touniata, and Mahumahu. About the year 1853 the canoe was presented by Te Waaka Perohuka to tin* great Northern child Tamati Waaka Nene and his brother Patuone, who sent by way of acknowledgment a piebald stallion called ‘Taika’ (? ‘Tiger’). The horse was afterwards given by Perohuka to Tarakau. the original owner of ‘Te-Toki-a-Tapiri.’ Some say that the horse was given first, and that the canoe was a return present. On the Manukau Harbour. The late Mr. F. 1). Fenton, Judge of the Native Land Court, wrote: ’‘Some yearn after the arrival of the canoe in Auckland from the East Coast, it was with the consent of the Ngapuhi chiefs, Tamati Waaka and Patuone sold by Hone llopiha te Ketetani (William Hobbs), of the Ngata-Maniapoto tribe, to Kaihau and Te Katipa. of the Ngati-Tva-ata tribe, Waiuku, for £4OO, and was taken overland to the waters

of the Manukau. Hone Hopiha at the same time sold Kaihau and Katipa two greenstone meres for t’loo each. “Waaka Nene and Patuone gave the whole of the £4OO to Hone llopiha. as he, while living at Hokianga, had cut and squared a large kauri «spar which wan given in exchange to a certain pakehi for the horse called ’Taika' already mentioned."’ In the Compensation Court, which was held in Auckland ( 1867 or 1868) Aihipene Kaihau. of the Ngati-I'e-a-ta, stated that the amount pa for the canoe was C6OO. Seized in the War-time. Mr H. A. 11. Munro, Judge of the Native Land Court, stated: “At the time of the Waikato War I was attached to the Native Department. Shortly after the outbreak in 1863 1 was instructed by the then Native Minister. Sir Francis Dillon Bell, to proceed to Onehunga and collect all the Maori canoes that could be found in the Manukau. The steamer Lady Barkley was placed at my disposal. and a party of the Onehunga Naval Volunteers, under Captain Purnell, was directed to accompany me. 1 was to obtain the canoes peaceably, if possible, but any way I was to get them, and to inform the natives that they were taken

simply to prevent the Maori rebels making a mischievous use of them, that they would be returned (to, them) at the termination of the war. and any that might, be lost or damaged would be fully paid for. The canoes were owned for tin* most part by the Ngati-Te ata. about one-half of whom had joined the rebels, the other remaining ’Kupapa.' or friendly. The Maoris made no objection to our taking the canoes, and we came down the Waiuku branch of the Manukau with a whole llotilla towing in the wake of the steamer. At a place called Rangatira, if 1 remember aright, w e found this large canoe ’Te-Toki-a-Tapiri,' drawn up under a shed. Looking at the tine canoe, 1 felt it would be a pity to take her to Onehunga. where for a certainty she would be destroyed or otherwise so damaged that the Government would be required to pay the £6OO, which, I understood, was the price given for her by the Ngati-Te-ata. I directed, therefore, that the ‘haumi.’ or stern portion, alone should be taken, as when

that was unlaced and removed the canoe would be practically useless until replaced. The Naval \ ohintei r. wore rather sulky at this, as they especially wanted this canoe to grace our triumphal return to Onehunga. The canoe was at this time in excellent condition, nothing being wanting except the puhipuhi (feather decorations), which the volunteers had unluckily discovered in a whare at Waiuku containing the belong iugs of the deceased chief Katipa. This they had cut up into lengths to adorn their heads. On our return to Onehunga the haumi wa<s placed in the Customhouse store for sate keeping. and my share in the matter ended. The canoe was subsequently brought to Onehunga. by whom was not known, and received so mu h damage that the Government hid ultimately to pay for her.” From information given h\ others it appears that after Mr Munro’s return a second party, numbering about one him dred men. was dispatched to collect the canoes overlooked by the first expedition. The party was under the com mand of Captain Lloyd: and one of the members was the late Mr I. C. Firth (see his book ‘Nation-making.” page 167). The canoe was secured with many

others and brought to Onehunga. where it remained on the beach for several years. While lying there a midshipman belonging to 11.M.5. Harrier made an attempt to blow up the canoe, seriously damaging it. At tin* close of the war the Ngati-Te-ati refused to take the canoe Kick, alleging that it was so much damaged as to he useless. The Compensation Court upheld thi-. ami awarded the Maoris £6OO in payment for their During the visit of U.K.11. the Duke of Edinburgh to Auckland fort \ two years ago the canoe was dragged across the Tamaki isthmus to Auckland in order to take part in a warcanoe race in the harbour. \fterwards it was placed in charge of the Child’ I aura Til haere at Orakei Bay. and remained in his care until it was finally presented by the Government to the Mum*uiii in 1885. The figurehead attached to the canoe is not the one originaliy carvel for it: that was taken to England b\ the Duke of Edinburgh.