A Mighty Tapu On Gough’s Bay

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 27, 23 April 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

A Mighty Tapu On Gough’s Bay

(Written for THE SUN by W. A. TAYLOR.)

OVER the hills eight miles from tahu tribe, the valuables of Gough's Akaroa lies the picturesque val- were placed in canoes and hidt.en in ley and bay known as Gough’s, 1 the creek. Though Europeans have named after a Pakeha-Maori of the j searched high and low the hiding early days. To the Maori the place is | place remains undiscovered, for Okeruru, and it was an occupied pa mighty is the tapu which guards the when the first Europeans arrived on ! treasure. In more recent times a gale Banks Peninsula. The ruins of its J i ll the-bay drowned the majority ot ramparts, which enclosed several the inhabitants whilst engaged in acres of land, can still be clearly dis- j fishing, and three widows gathered tocerned from the homestead of Mr T. j gether the treasures of ihe pa and Masefield just above the beach. The the valuables in two canoes which earliest settlers in the bay were Peter j were then buried in the creek. The Malmanche and the Masefield broth- j creek holds its secret still, the tapu ers. An evil influence hovered round I holds good. the bay in those days. Mr Malmanche j The Maori shearer or grass seedei

came by a mysterious accident, and the Masefields had their midnight slumbers disturbed by strange noises, but they braved all and the estate remains in the famliy. Though a skull or two can still be found at Gough’s, the ghosts have been well laid. Moki, the great chief of the Ngatahu tribe, passed through Okeruru when on his way to capture the Ngatimamoe pa of Parakariki (Long Bay). Te Mai Hari Nui also passed through Okeruru when on his visit of retribution to Panau (Long Look Out), some members of the hapu having broken the rules of tapu at Kaiapoi. When the Ngatiawas were endeavouring to vanquish the Ngar-

can with difficulty be induced to stay a nigiht in the bay, it is such a “tapu** place. Fragments of the ship Crest, which was lost under tragic and peculiar circumstances at the North Head of Akaroa Harbour on October 29, IS6S, came ashore a: Gough’s. The bush has vanished except for the reserves thoughtfully saved by the Masefields. Ruins of an old sawmill are to be seen on the north headland, also the landing stage for shipping. The bay strongly resembles its northern neighbour, Waikerakikari Bay, in appearance, and follows “Hickory” Bay closely for the quality of its beef and mutton at the Christchurch market.