MAORIS SET OUT TO FULFIL PROPHECY

Chronicle (Levin), 19 December 1947, Page 5

MAORIS SET OUT TO FULFIL PROPHECY

WHAXUAKKi, Dec. IS. An ancient prophetess of the Ngapuhi tribe, when in a clairvovant state, pietuceti a great war cunoe 011 the water-; of Lake Omapere 111 tlie days that lay :'ar c.hoad, this being a symbol that tht Xgapuhis had regained the maua t'hal renged by tJie pakeha. This happy state being regardeil as having de veloped, it is expected that the fullii ment of the' prophecy which has been Iiauded down from oue generatioii- to iinotiter, will be wituessed uext year when a great war (unoe is to be buili un the sliores of Omapere and launched 011 the waters of the lake. For two or three months plans have been made and as the outeome three delegates went into the Puketi forest a fortnight ago and seleeted a nmgnili cent kauri uine feet in diameter and with probably (30 feet of clean bole. This trae, wlucli is oue of the largest trees in the forest, could not l)e felled until Sir Michael Myers 's Oommission gises judgment 011 tlie Maoris' claim to ihe ownership. of the Takapau block in which the giant kauri stands. In order that the tree might be converted into the war canoe foretol't by the prophetess, the good othees 01 Ihe Prinie Minister were secured and ihe State Forest Service gave tlu necessary permit for the felling which will tak'e place on the second Tuesda.\ in the Xew Year when the 1000-year-u.«! kauri will be brought to earth prepara torv to its eonvevanee to the shores j! Oniapere. It is expected that the canoe will be readv for use earlv in the year and that it will be presented to Peter Frasoi as liis persona] jrroperty, this being the M aori 's trilmte to Mjtfe Fraser for his interest in the Mauri ■'people. The launching, wliieh will be attended bv Mr. l-Yaser, is expected to be wit"essed bv a .ygry large g-athering oi Maoris frohi all paris of the islund. The carving, whielu will be eutrusted to niu ed carvers. will be iliustrative of the history and exploits of the Ngapuhi people who have today reeovered the mana they possessed in the days before tlie wars with the pakeha.