HISTORY OF THE MAORI CONQUEST.

Shannon News, 9 October 1925, Page 4

HISTORY OF THE MAORI CONQUEST.

HOME OF TRIBAL REFUGEES RELICS OF PAST CENTURIES News of the discovery of rock carvings on a cliff face in a secluded glen in the Kaingaroa district has been received with interest by ethnologists. Mr George Graham, of Auckland, states that the carvings will undoubtedly prove to be of some antiquity, extending back four or five centuries at least, states the "New Zealand Herald.”

The ancient people of the Kaingaroa district, states Mr Graham, were the Ngati-Hotu tribe. These people were of the olden Tini-0.-Toi (people of Toi) and were also descendants of the still older aboriginals knows as the Kawerau, Maruiwi and other ancient tribes who date back at least to the tenth century. , The NgatiHotu tribal area appears to have extended in former times over a great tract of country, for the tribe occupied from Southern Taupo to the Waikato Valley, and practically all of what is now known as the King Country was in their possession. The Corniest.

On the arrival of the fleet of immigrant canoes about the year 1350, said Mr Graham, the crews were not lone in asserting themselves by trespassing upon the Ngatl-Houtu territories, At first it appears to have been done by a policy of “peaceful penetration.” After several minor disturbances, peace by inter-marriage seems to. have prevailed for a time. At last warfare broke out, but o the details of these wars, little is known. It seems, however, that at an early date, some time in the 13 th century, the Ngati-Hotu were attacked by the Tainui people from the direction of Lower Waikato and Kawhia. The Tainui drove them right away into the Upper Waikato and Taupo districts, where those refugees fled to join their relatives. Then came warfare from the south, for invasions came from Poverty Bay —whilst also on their eastern boundaries, their relatives, the Morangaranga, were driven from their Bay of Plenty lands, and took refuge n the Urewera District, Scattering of Refugees. In West Taupo, the Ngati-Hotu appear to have allied themselves with the Ngati-Tama and Ngati-Toa of the West Coast, and unitedly these tribes attacked the people of Upper Wanganui. The fortunes of war were turncd against them, the result being their defeat bv the Wanganui people, who destroyed all their fortresses, and defeated them signally in battle at Taumarunui. About the year 145 0 the Arawa chief. Haliuanui, was living with the Ngati-Hotu, who appear to have made a temporary peace with the Arawas. Ouarrels arose over sites of - cultivations and also in respect of women.

Haku killed several Ngati-Hotu people ynd at last met his own death at the hands of Ngati-Hotu. This murder arousfed the Arawa tribe and. after a decisive campaign, they drove the Ngati-Hotu from their lands and homes and took possession. This was the final destruction of the NgatiHotu, remnants of whom fled to the forests and wilderness of their ancient tribal domains. ' No doubt the cliff-face dwellingsite now discovered., states Mr. Graham, was one of the lurking places of the Ngati-Hotu refugees. For in such places there long lingered the remnants of the defeated tribe and there they remained until death or final extermination ended their troubled history.

Peculiar Canoe Carvings. The growing of the solitary fuchsia bush (kotukutuku) on the camp-fire site is magnificent. The lOod of these refugees was -wholly the fruits of forest, fern roots and birds. The stone-pestle W’ould have been used in the preparation of the fernroot for food and, being a valuable domestic utensil, was probably concealed where found. . ’ j\ir. Graham states that without seeing photographs ol the carved iepresentations of the canoes, it would be premature to express an opinion as to the peculiarity of the bow and •the high platform projecting.” Such platforms, however, are stated to have been erected on ancient war canoes known as “pora.” Thereon the warriors stood armed with long spears. But this Iype of war canoe undoubtedly went out of use in New Zealand many centuries ago. gasman, Cook and other voyagers, who saw hundreds of canoes on these coasts, do not record any examples then in use of this type of canoe, whicn, no doubt, had become obsolete. Then, as Ngati-ITotu were an inland tribe, the artist who drew the pictures probably was recording something then only seen on the coast, or a mere traditional memory even in his time.

Ancient Naval Battles. There were several references in Maori history to ancient naval battles in which canoes were sunk by eolli-

sions deliberately brought about, but not being rammed, as the purpose of the “Greek or Egyptian beak" might imply. It is certain that the ancient canoes had a much simpler figurehead ornamentation, being probably a mere “beak-like” projection. The elaborately-carved stern-posts and figure-heads, surmounted with plumes were an evolution of Maori art of later times. In their simpler forms the bow-pieces even in use in recent yc ars were probably more like the original type than the more elaborate forms. Details of this discovery would be awaited with much interest by Maori archaeologists, added Mr. Graham, and it was to be hoped that a scientific investigation of the camp site would be made and put on record. For undoubtedly there remained unknown and undiscovered' material essential to the complete understanding of the ethnology of the ancient Maori.