OLD SETTLER’S REMINISCENCES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1573, 6 July 1916, Page 4

OLD SETTLER’S REMINISCENCES.

The love of sport ran keenly in the veins of the early Maoris, who lived at Hokowhitu in the early days. Mr Stevens, in an interview with a Palmerston Times reporter, recalled the time that when he first came to Palmerston he went to Hokowhitu with the Maori boy, and every other day they came into the clearing, attracted thither by the lure of the chase. The Maoris used to hunt wild pigs, being assisted in this by the most cunning of canines, the Maori dog. The Maoris used to spear' the pigs, having for the purpose long manuka, poles, which were sharpened and burnt, and then polished to the shininess of ebony and to a fine point. The pig which was unfortunate enough to run up against one of these spears gave a screeching squeal and rendered up the ghost. A great delicacy with the Maori was the tui and the bellbird. The Maoris used to snare these birds by placing clusters of berries for which they showed partiality in cunningly contrived traps. Frequently the Maoris got kitfuls of tuis and korimakos. Another delicacy was the native pigeon, and the snaring of these birds brought the Maoris’ hunting instincts into full play. They were very difficult birds to catch, and the Maoris used to go about it in a manner that would be considered impossible at the present day. They used long spears with a jagged point made from the heart of the fern tree. They would trail the bird, which would perch in its leafy security on some bough 30 feet or so from the ground. The Maori would stealthily creep up with so slow a motion that he became part, and parcel of the immediate surroundings. Inch by inch the long 40 foot spear would creep its way up to the breast of the unsuspecting pigeon; then a flick of the wrist and an upward jab and another pigeon had gone the way of many of his ancestors. And all this 50 years ago in places where it is hoped trams will be running shortlv!