TOKI-A-TAPARI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 401, 9 July 1928, Page 9

TOKI-A-TAPARI

Famous War Canoe Removed to New Home DIFFICULT UNDERTAKING | ** Toki-a-Tapari ’* —The Axe of Tapari— has concluded its last long journey. It is hardly possible that this famous war canoe, for years one of ihe most attractive features at the Auckland Museum, will again be removed from a place of safe-keeping. After considerable difficulty. Toki-a-Tapari was removed from the old museum this morning in Princes Street to the new War Memorial Museum iu the Domain. It was no mean achievement. At one stage of the proceedings, the large aperture, which had been made in the brick wall of the old museum, had to be even further extended. The 70 odd feet of Tapari's axe. with six tons weight behind, set a considerable task before the employees of Winstone, Ltd., who directed the work so successfully. Toki-a-Tapari is a notable example of the old war canoe constructed from a single tree. Made on the East Coast, it eventually came into the possession of the Manukau Harbour tribes, and on one occasion, during the Wai- | kato War, it was almost destroyed by gunpowder, owing to the action of an j "enterprising” young naval officer, j The Government of the day was mosi | anxious that Toki-a-Tapari. and other | canoes in the Auckland district, should not fall into the hands of the Waikato ! Maoris.