KARORI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1133, 22 May 1911, Page 4

KARORI.

HOW IT GOT ITS KAME. Mr. Elsdon Best writes!—"l note in Saturday's issue that Mr. Cathio gives Karoriroro (rKarorirori) as tho correct fprm of the above place name. This namo of Karori was given to tho place by tho original native occupants of tho Welling, ton district, Jong centuries before Ngati« awa'and Ngati-'i'oa took possession of these parts. The Rangitane tribe formerly occupied this district, and also Wai-ra'rapa. Iu later times JJjjati.lra held the districl as far as I'uke-rua, until dispossessed bj tlie raiders of the Awa and Too. tribes, who were compelled to migrate from theii northern homes. "Tho descendants of Ira state that Karori was named from circumstances attending tho death of Te Polm, an ancestor of theirs, who spent much timo in apparently aimless wanderings, and who chanced to die at the place since known as Karori during one of his rambles. "The cjuestiou was asked: 'I mato a To Pohu Id hca? 1 and one replied: 'I ana karori nca atu Id Ilea.' (At what place did To Pohu die? Aus.: At some place in his aimless rumblings.) Hence was fha placo of his death named Karori, the word signifying his actions in meandering aimlessly around. In theso days he would probably bo termed a tourist. "There are. some very curious traditions connected with the origin of some of tho local place names, as iu the case of Povirua, for example, but of theso more anon."