SHANNON’S EARLY DAYS.

Shannon News, 17 June 1921, Page 2

SHANNON’S EARLY DAYS.

By OCTOGENARIAN. (No. II.) To the west of Shannon township, and close by the Manawatu, is a small lagoon or lake known as “de Maire. About eighty years ago, we are told, it. was the dwellingplace of a tribe of Maoris, and was the scene of a fierce tragedy. In those days there were Maori pas all along the river from the Manawatu Gorge to Foxton, and bitter feuds existed between some of them. The dwellers at Te Maire learned that their pa was to be raided on a certain night by a hostile tribe. There were spies in those days, who gleaned information and ran overland to spread it. When the Te Maire natives got wind of the proposed attack they posted scouts along the river bank, and just where their camp was, close to the river, a large tree grew, its branches overhanging the river. Canoes, heavily freighted, passed under the boughs of this tree, because the water was deep close to the bank Two or three watchers with tomahawks were posted in the tree forks; while on the bank busnes were strewn, behind which the dwellers at the pa waited for the enemy.. Tradition tells the story thus- The

night was dark, and towards morning the tribe at the pa heard the muffed sound of paddles coming down the river. There was suppressed excitement, the scouts in the trees took their places, their intention being to drop into the canoe, while those on the bank rushed it from the shore As the canoe came close, no sount was heard, for on the one side was fear of discovery, and on the other a resolve to spring a surprise. Sud' dcnly there was a war-whoop and the paddlers in the canoe found themselves unready to meet attack. They were overcome, and about twenty massacred. Whether a cannibal feast followed is not known. Te Maire was one of the prettiest beauty spots in the Manawatu. Eaily settlers in Shannon will remember wliat pleasant picnics were held on the flat between the little lake and the river. It was well grassed, there wore fruit trees (probably planted by the missionary who at one time lived there). It seemed to be a sanctuary for birds, for the trees were alive with them. On the south side there was a dense bush, known as “Wallace’s Bush.” Some of the settlers tried to get the Government to make Te Maire a reserve, and Mr John Stevens, then member for the district, was asked to use his influence in this direction. But all was of no avail, and the town of Shannon lost a beauty spot that would have been a charming asset of the town. A sawmill was planted near the lake, and the bush was cut hro. Then the place was shorn of its beauty and lost. On one of my visits to Moutoa I rode up to the Maori Church, which was built on a knoll overlooking the Manawatu River. I was told that in former days the natives came from up and down the river, long distances in canoes, to attend the services which ‘be Anglioafi Chilrch! provided. It Mwst have been a remarkable scene to stand upon the edge of the knoll and see from fifteeii to twenty canoes tied -m. while the natives attended service T went into the church, which was strongly built but somewhat decayed with age. It was frequented by njnls, and they nested here, and all the seats were dotted with birdlime. On the seats were leaflets in Maori containing the order of service, and in the vestry I found a once white surplice. stained with age, hanging upon a nail. One could not but feel -sad in reviewing the past and picturing the natives standing in the pews and chanting hymns to the Creator. Looking at the birds flitting to and fro in the building brought to mind two tines in Hymns Ancient and Modern: “i-lappy birds that sing and fly, Round Thy altars, O Most High.” Not far from this church, but nearer the river, I found the body of a very large canoe. It. was one of the largest, and though rather the worse for age, could have been re-

paired and made useful. The figurehead, of fine workmanship, was in possession of a settler living close by. When 1 returned to Shannon I interviewed Wi Katene, a well known native residing there, and asked if his people would sell the canoe. He

shook his head, and considered it would be a sacrilegious are to sell it to Europeans. I then promised him, if he would see to the canoe being brought over to Shannon, that I would get a shed built to receive it. But no, nothing would move him. It is a pity that these fine remnants of days gone by are allowed to perish. Years ago. on the Horowhenua. Lake, at Levin, was another of these monster canoes. The late Wiki Hunia claimed it, but she wbuld not hear of it being put upon the lake and controlled by Europeans.