STORIES OF THE PENINSULA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 676, 5 January 1883, Page 2

STORIES OF THE PENINSULA.

No. 32.—Maori History of Banks Peninsula. . (Contributed by the Rev. J. W. Stack. J

NGAI TAHU TAKING POSSESSION". After the destruction of Parakakatiki and the death of Tv te Kawa, the various chiefs of Ngai Tahu, engaged in Moki's expedition, who had not already secured a landed estate elsewhere for themselves and their families, took immediate steps to acquire some part of the Peninsula. The rule they adopted was, that whoever claimed any place first, should have the right to it, provided he went at once and performed some act of ownership there ; •fyid also that he should be entitled to as much land around ie as he could traverse bfefore encountering another selector. Te Sangi Whakaputa hastened to secure Te Whakaraupo (Port Cooper). Hiuksji hurried off to Koukourarata; Mango to Wairewa; Te Rua hikihiki landed at Wainui, and commenced at once to dig fern root, and prepare it for food ; he then passed round the coast, leaving Manaia at Whaka Moana, and others of his party at Waikakahi, taking up his own permanent residence at Tau unuu. Tutakahikura, one of Mrs Tikao's ancestors, leaving his sister and his family at Pohatupa, walked quickly round the coast by the North head of Akaroa harbor, and up the shore as far as Taka matua, and thence round by Parakakariki to starting point. While crossing one of the streams that flow through (lie present township of Akaroa, he encountered O-i-nakao, a. Ngatimamoe chief, and a fugitive from Parakakariki, they engaged in mortal combat, and 0-i-nalaio was killed, and the stream was ever after known by his name. Te Ake, the ancestor of Big William, landed at the Head uf the Bay, and after trying in' vain to reach Wainui, owing to the rough nature of the coast, he retraced his steps, and tried to get round the other side of the harbor, but on reaching the grassy slopes between Duvauche'le and Robinson's B:\y, he felt too tired to go any further, and took possession of the point and h-i surroundings by planting his walking stick in the ground, hence the place was afterwards known as Otokotoko. (walking stick). Fearing that his bpundary towards the south might be disputed, Te Ake begged To Kangi Taurewa to cross over in bis canoe to a head land lie

pDintt'd out, and lliero to hold up his white whalebone weapon, while he himself stood at Otdkotoko, and watcheJ him. His friend did as he was requested, and tho head land has ever since been known as the '■ Peg on which Te Rangi Taurewas's patu par.ioa hung " —south side of French Farm. The beach below the point was called "The shell of Hine Pani," after some Maori lady who found a shell there, which she greatly prized. Some years after these events took place, another section of Ngai Tahu, under the command of Tβ Wera, a, fiery warrior, destined to play nn important part in the history of his tribe in the South, enrne in search of a new home. They landed at .Hikurangi, but, finding that the place wus already occupied, they sent to Whaka moana for Manaia, a chief of very high distinction, the Upoko Ariki or heir to all the family honors of more than one hapu in the tribe. On his arrival, a war dance was held in his honor, and there was much friendly speechifying. Te Were, after indulging in some rude witticisms on the personal appearance of their " squinteyed lord," extended his right arm, and called upon Manaia to enter. Manaia rose up and. passed under his arm, and so peace was confirmed between them; but, to cement their friendship still more firmly, Te Wera gave Irakehu, grand-daughter of Te Rangi Whakaputa, to Manaia in marriage, and she became the ancestress of Mr and Mrs Tikao, Paurini, and the chief persons in the Maori community here. Te Wera and his party then afailed away to the South, and established themselves for a time near Waikouaiti, where they were as much dreaded for their ferocity by other sections of their own tribe as by the Ngatimamoe, whom they were trying to exlermin.'ite. For many generations the Maories on the Peninsula remained in peaceful occupation of their new homos, undisturbed by foreign attacks or internal strife. Occasionally the bolder, spirits amongst them would go away to take part in tho wars against Ngatimamoe, which were carried on for many years in districts further to the south, or else to take part in some quarrel between different sections of the Ngai Tahu tribe located elsewhere. Among those who went off in search of military honors was a certain heretical teacher named Kiri mahi nahina, who left Akaroa for the seat of war near Moeraki, and fell at the battle of Tara ka hina a tea. This tohunga had told Turakautahi the younger that Tiki made man, whilst the fntlnrs had always maintained that it was Ip. Te Whera adopted a novel method of preventing the survival ot this man's false teaching, through his spirit escaping and getting into some other tohunga. When the battle was over, he made an oven capable of containing the entire body, and then he carefully plugged the mouth, ears, nose, and every other aperture, and having cooked the heretical teacher, he, with the assistance of some of his warriors, ate up every portion of him. The life of those who remained quietly at home was enjoyable enough, for it is a great mistake to suppose that the old Maori life in peaceful times was one of privation and suffering, on the contrary, there was a variety and abundance of food, and agreeable and healthy occupation for mind and body. Kach season of the year, and each part of the day had its specially allotted work, both for men and women. Tho women, besides such household duties as cooking and cleaning their houses, made the clothing and bedding required for their households. , They gathered the flax and ti palm Sbres used, and prepared and worked them up into a great variety of garments, many of which took several months to complete, and which, when finished, were very beautiful specimens of workmanship. The men gathered the food and stored it in whfttas or storerooms, which were attached to every dwe ling, and built on tall posts to protect the contents from damp and rats. Besides such natural products of the soil as fern root, ti palm stems, and convolvulus roots, they cultivated ihe kuinera and hues. Fish of various kinds were caught during the proper season, and cured by drying in the sun. Wild pigeons, kakas, paradise ducks, ■ and mutton birds were cooked and preserved in their fat in vessels made out of large kelp leaves, and bound round with totara bark to strengthen them. Netting, carving and the grinding and fitting of of stone implements and weapons occupied the old men, and much of the leisure time of the young. They beguiled the Jong winter evenings by reciting historical traditions, and tribal genealogies, by repeating poetry and fairy tales, and by songs, dances, and round games. It was only when they fell ill or were harassed by their enemies that the Maoris of olden time can with any truth be represented as having been miserable and unhappy. (Tote continued.)