Maori Legends.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 256, 25 September 1884, Page 2

Maori Legends.

The opening lectureof whatare termed the "Museum Series" was delivered by Mr J. J. Freeth, at Masterjon lately. In the course of his. remarks, Mr Freeth referred to the Creation from a Maori point of view, and described graphically how the Heaveus originally lay prono on the earth till some - vigoroHS natives lifted them up and propped them .with stars. He next briefly adverted (snys the Daily) to the native creation of the sun and moon, the origin of man and woman; the tradition of the flood, and the beautiful legend which ascribes the mist on the hills to tears shed by "Rangi,V the Heavens, to prove that he is not unmindful of his old companion, the earth, from which he was separated. The next myth touched upon was the fishing up of the North Island of New Zealand by a god with an unpronounceable name. The lecturer then ably sketched tho migration of the Maori race from the Sandwich Islands, the introduction of the native rats, and the Maori idea of a place of departed spirits. Some amusement was created by his description of the god of earthquakes, whose snore was a tremor, whose grunt was a imall shake, and who, when he turned over on his side, caused the heavy earthquakes. The lecture concluded, with the recital of a local legend of an old man whoso young wife was stolen away, and who pursued her through the Forty MiJe Bush to Wanganui, returning thence by the West Coast, Poriraa and Hutt Valley to the Wairarapa.