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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2532, 20 January 1923, Page 4

The art of weaving and ils development by the Maoris was (lie subject of a lecture by Dr. Duck before tlie Science Congress at Wellington <in Monday. Other Polynesian races forgot the art of weaving being favoured by a bark and cloth supply, which the Maoris brought to New Zealand, but found climatically unsuitable. The Maoris had, therefore revived the lost art of weaving, for which Mux offered abundant material. Prom basket designs and eel traps were evolved simple plaited designs, (hf< p.eople finally invented a tied cloth from plain twined weaving, with a two ply weft. Maori inventiveness then progressedl, a four ply weft with which the better class garments were made and close twine weaving, as in the famous dog skin cloaks. Further development produced wrapped twined weaving in beautiful geometrical and coloured designs of toniko borders which marked the highest advance of all. The two pointed sticks, upon which Maori weaving was set up were not degenerate representives of a forgotten loom, but an independent creation, invented during the occupation of New Zealand.