THE HOROWHENUA LAKE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 12

THE HOROWHENUA LAKE

A LEVIN BEAUTY SPOT. (By "Waimoa") Few country towns aro so delightfully situated for attractive . surroundings as Levin, and the surprise is chat the residents have not boomed them. In this case wo will confine ourselves to the Horowhenua Lake, which is just about & mile from tho post office, and can bo reached in a direct line from thence. This sheet of water is two and a, quarter miles long by about three-quarters of a aiile wide. Tho average depth is eight feet, but there is a channel near the further shore fifteen feet deep. The lane is bordered by low hills on tho western side and by grass fiats and bush on the Levin 6ide, and here many delightful picnics have been held, while on the. lsko mailing and rowing boats and a steam launch have carried passengers to visit the points of interest in different parts. In the past the settlers had much trouble with the Manopoko tribe, tho owners of the lake, who stoutly protested against Europeans going upon it. It has taken years to wear down their opposition, but Government iniluence succeeded.

The Manopofcos have lived upon tho shores of this lake so far back that no correct date can be given. Littlo was known of this coast sixty or seventy years ago, and the history of tribal wars to obtain possession, of this water because of the eels which havo always abounded bore is conflicting. Bloody buttles covered a long period of years and weakened the tribes who took part. . The Alanopokos, to protect thelneelvea from invasion, built up six miniature islands in the iake, in different places, find theso islands may be seen to-day, covered with vegetation. In the daytime tho Maoris cultivated tho land on the borders of tho lake, and at night they elept upon these little island*, where they had comfortable wliarcs. It was not so much xaiils by land that tho tribe dreaded as invasion from tjje sea, for in those days immense cauobs containing warriors from the north visited the tribes near the ucean, and there was great slaughter. It may be said that the Manopokos built up thesit six islands for defence purposes, but ihey proved death-traps in ihe end. Two of these islands are at the north end of the lake, and tho ouo near the muuth of the Kawiu stream can bo seen distinctly frdm the boatshed. Two others lie southward, and not far from the south-east slioi*, while the last two lie near tho outlot of the lake into the Hokio stream.

AVhen a spot for these miniature islands was fixed upon, the Natives—men and women—took part in the work of building. Stakes were drivori into the soil deep beneath the surface of the water. These were laced together, and when finished were like a huge basket. Tho women then gathered roots und tussocks and flax and earth, and by long labour tho basket-like enclosure wns filled, up and thou built above the water until a solid foundation was ready for tho whares. Outside this basket-like island the Natives next built a "gridiron" of saplings for protection from attacking canoes, leaving a pnssage into which they could bring their own canoes. These protecting "gridirons" exist today, and often boating parties who have gone out to inspect these islands, not knowing of this protection, have had narrow escapes from being upset. Their boats have run up on this platform, and only with great difficulty havo been refloated.

As Europeans fettled in Levin the Maoris, who were living on the further shoro of the lake, caino over to Wcraroa. They thus get the benefit of the public school for their children and mingle 'freely with their piikcha friends. They a,ro very quiet and well-behaved.

Want of space forbids us giving a little of the history of the Pupaitonga Lake, situated at the back of tho Experimental Farm. The late Sir Walter Buller become its owner, made it a sanctuary for native birds, put trout in its waters, and it was his intention to build. a mansion overlooking the lake, but be did not live to carry out bis idea. This shoot of water, surrounded by beautiful Jiiudscape scenery, is a spot (there poet, artist and painter would find inspiration. The pity is that the Government has not niado it a national pleasure resort. Lake Horowbeiuia is a gem of beauty, with tho ocean on one side and the. town of Levin, on tho other. When tho residents wake up to its value they will beautify its eastern shore with shrubs and flowers and make it the prettiest spot between Wellington and Palmei'ston North. On tho west sido thero is a flat suitable for ganies and general recreation sports, and the time will come when motor-launches will convey pleas-ure-seekers across the water for picnics; wiien bungalows will bo built and sur. rounded with pretty gardens; and whero the kiosk will dispense all tho goori things that, holiday-makers require. There will bo a surprising transformation on tho shores of this lake when pushful men lift the place out of its present obscurity. Tho old settlers in Levin have been busy in other ways, and in a, measure have neglected to make the most of Nature's gifts around them. Tho Natives have stood in the way of progress.hitherto, but enterprising spirits \vill tako a hand in bringing about a new era. They will work such a transformation, added to the endowments of Nature, that will make Levin a centre of attraction.