THE ANCIENT MANAWATU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 381, 5 May 1908, Page 2

THE ANCIENT MANAWATU.

“ Teeacotry ” writes to us under the above heading. He says : “ It has often been wondered how our ancient river came to be named the “ Manawatu.” I will explain for the enlightenment of the ignorant. Many years ago, when member Jack Stevens was in swaddling clothes —and you may guess that wasn’t yesterday—there wasa great gathering of Maori chiefs from the cities of Motniti, Puralawhia, and A wall on, at a spot now known as the Sanatorium, which is Maori for “mixed bathing.” The leading chiefs were holding a great korero. The subject of discussion was the naming of our ancient river. Thousands of dusky warriors encircled the orators. Riding at anchor, over the bar, lay a British man-o’-war, and a couple of whaling craft. The men of the sea observed the gathering, and were anxious to ascertain the cause, so they came ashore. They were awe-struck at the sight, their wondering optics bulged forth as they watched the graceful movements of the rangitira speaker, but they could not interpret an} r meaning. Jock, a Scotqh blue-jacket engineer, quoth to Sandy: “Man, 1 am awa,” (which, interpreted into the vulgar, means: “I am away.”) Sandy replied with an air of disgust: “Man, I am awa, too!” Then up sprang the great Motuiti chief, Apirama, and exclaimed ; “Kapai ! Kapai! Ma-na-wa-tu ! Ma-na-wa-tu!” The cry was taken up by a thousand dusky warriors, and the earth shook beneath them as both feet came to the ground as the word was pronounced. ■ A great feast followed, and Jock was honoured with .the order of the “ Rotten Shark,” and Sandy that of “Eel’s Tooth.” (Thus it was that our river received its name !”