OLD FLUTE FOUND AT RAPAKI

Shannon News, 6 September 1927, Page 3

OLD FLUTE FOUND AT RAPAKI

RENOWNED IN SONG AND STORY AUCKLAND, August 30. Te Rauparaha, who has sometimes been called the Maori Napoleon, because of his inordinate desire for conquest, once possessed a flute. The instrument was renowned in song and story. To-day it reposes in Auckland Museum, one of the most cherished possessions. The almost forgotten flute of Te Rauparaha was discovered at Rapaki, in Lyttelton Harbour. Eventually it was purchased from the Maoris there for Auckland Museum. If was some time, however, before that flute was identified as the historic flute of the old warrior. A drawing in Hamilton’s “Maori Art” led to this conclusion. The flute from Rapaki .and the drawing of that which had belonged to Te Rauparaha were considered identical. t The example of this flute was used by way of illustration when Mr George Graham, the Auckland Maori scholar, issued a warning to the Maori Race section of the Institute last night not to accept articles from certain place, as peculiar to that district. It was dangerous to be too dogmatic, he said about such matters,, 'nevertheless, lie urged unceasing study, especially into Maori mythology, which was interwoven with the ancient history of the Polynesians. The Maoris, after tlieir arrival in this country, were in a continual state of warfare. ' War partie. from the north went as far south ar Otago. Beautiful carvings to be seen in the vicinity of Cook Strait had been accomplished by artists from as far distant as Poverty Bay. The carving ,vere made by slaves taken from other districts. It was impossible, therefore, to define New Zealand into cultural areas as far as Maori art is concerned.