TAKITUMU.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1326, 2 January 1912, Page 4

TAKITUMU.

DESTROYED BY FIRE ON SUNBAY.

FAMOUS CARVED HOUSE. SOMETHING OF ITS 'HISTORY. News was received yesterday of < the total destruction by firo of tlio famous carved Moori house ("Tnkitumu") at Tableland, near Shirt inborough. On account of Iho holiday yesterday, it was only poesibln to obtain meagre, particulars, Mr. JJ'enuro Parata, who happened to be at Taukeriirikiin yesterday, received word of the fire in the morning, and, as far as could bo ascertained, the Takilumu had been razed to the ground. It is understood that at tho time of (lie firo (about )0 p.m. on Sunday) thero was only one Native about the place—an old pensioner. Th« origin of tho fire is a. mystery, but the polico are conducting investigations. Something of the history of the building 'was gained by a Dominion ropresentafive'from conversation with Mr. Henare Pa rata, and with Sir. W, H. Manihera, of Greytown North. The Takitnmu—so called after the canoe in which the Maoris came to New Zealand from Hawaiiki—was carved at .Papawai by people of tho Ngotipo and Te Kooti tribes who came from the East Coast, and were something like 10' in number. This work occupied about three years in completion, and after that it was suggested by the Chief Te Kooti that tho house should bo erected at Tableland, aljb.ut four miles east of Martinborough, in tho South YVairarapa. A Massive Ridge Pole. In 1891, the whole of tho carved timber was.carted down to the scene, with the exception of the ridge pole—a massive piece about 70ft. in length. This was.sailed down tho Ruamahanga River, and the carved house was erected where it has siuce stood—a monument to the patiencr. of the race and. to their skill m. ehhel work. About the year 1891 or 1592 the great warrior Te Kooti visited the Wairarapa to attend the opening ceremony, which took place at that time. Tho original owner of -he building was Manihera Rangitakaiwaho, of the Ngatimoe tribe, but he died before its completion, The hapus are more recently given as folloivs:—Ngatimoe (Manihera); Ng'atikahukuraivhitia (Manihera); Ngahikawera (Niniwa Hercmaia and Mata Mahupuku, now.Mrs. M'Gregor); and Ngatimurutu (Whatehcro, C. ,1, Jury, of Glendowcr, and tho descendants of Wiremu Kingi). The building was used as a meetinghouse, and had been the scene of niauy noted gatherings of the Natives. An Offer of £6000. . Tit ISO?, Tamahau Mahupuku, the then principal owner,-received an olTer of ■i.'6'OOO for tho carved house., The offer was made by Messrs. Fitzgerald Bros., the well-known circus proprietors', who proposed exhibiting- the famous piecn of Maori cral'tmnnslnp in the large cities of Great Britain and Europe. Tho .chief refused to accept the offer, and subse(jiiwltly declined oilier offers. Jn the same year, IS9B, Mahupuku and Henare Parata visited the 'Prime Minister (the Hon. R. ,1, Scddon) in Wcllinglou, and presented the'Tnkiluinu to the people of the colony on condition that it be placed in; position on some suitable site, in tho Umpire City. Sine© then (Mr. Parata-. .says) somebody misinterpreted the gift, and the South Wairarapa County Council wanted tho honso set up in Slarliuliorbugh. Sir. l'nrata raised strong objection io this, as the intention then was to remove the carved house to Papawai, where the Tamahau Mahupuku memorial stone had been erected by the Natives and the Government. A Chief's Direction. It appears that before his death, Manihera Rangitakaiwaho had directed YVi 'Mahupuku (grandfather of Sirs. 'M'Gregor) to havo tlio house erected, in Papawai, but for some reason or other tlio direction was not carried out, and the Tableland was selected as the site. Tho gift to the pcoplo of New Zealand was appai cnlly never put in proper, form, and it was Sirs.' Sl'Gregor's iutcntion to have the Takiiuutu taken back to Papawai and su give belated effect to tho wishes of tho original yowner. 'Unfortunately, this can--nnl _ now be done. Whether or not the building was covered by insurance could not bo discovered yesterday. Probably it is. .The loss is in many respects a. severe one The carvings were of ancient type, and very valuable, mid in addition tho house contained valuablo units, ancient relics, und a number of photographs of not ablo chiefs, Tarawa Iteningi,. Tamahau Slahupuku, Wi Slahupuku, nercmaia Tamahotua, and others. ■ 1 Commenting on tho loss,, Sir. Henare. Furata said: "The Natives and tho people of New Zealand will feel it very much. ,As for myself, I am very sorry indeed, because 1 know tho Joss cannot bo replaced. It was Iho only carved house between Palliser Bay and Gisborue."