HOKITIKA!

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1928, Page 2

HOKITIKA!

WHY SO NAMED. Hokitika in the native language means “ going straight,” “ returning straight.” Bound up with the name is interesting legendary history of the very early days, long before the white men came this way. With thoughts to-day turning back sixty years to the genesis of the neighbouring town, it is not inopportune to refer to the birth of our town or place, when the Maori waiiiois passed this way in their keen desires to possess the greatly valued greenstone. In the days of old there was a native battle at Mahinapua between the Ngatiwairangis and the Ngaitalius. Taiietiki. the son ol 1 uahuriri "as drowned with two other chiefs—Tutepiriraki and Tula F.maro. The Ngatiwairnngis. who lived at Mahinapua, invoked the gods to destroy the invaders the Ngnitahus. Tiiaroruro-otc-rangi I Ik- Tohunga, said the incantations. Then lli- <■< surged in from tin- Coast and d-Mloycd the Ngaitaliiis. including the tin*-- <l>m !••... lanetiki. Tiitepii iraki and I ul;> emora. Another chief ol the tribe. Hikat.itae the three bodies ol bis Irien-ls and ~l lt the heads, oil and brought, them across the Hokitika liiei. It was the Ngaitalius who named the river “Hokitika.” because it referred to the “ returning straight back ” of the heads of the three chiefs. Tins narrative has been supplied by Mrs F. B. Morrison illustrating how the place name was given. Mrs -Morrison was Mi.riwai Mutu. daughter ol the Bov. l’ita Mutu. ami her imitlie: was Wikitorin Taiimi, the daughter of Werita Taini.i, the chief who resided at Greymouth when tie explorers lleaphy and Brunner the first pakehas to explore the Most Coast, arrived there. Mr Seddon. M.P.. who forwarded tbe foregoing, mentioned that Mrs Morrison and a party of Maori pot dancers will probably visit Greymouth during the jubilee proceedings.