TEACHING HISTORY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 36

TEACHING HISTORY

MAORI OVENS IN SCHOOL GROUND

CUSTOMS EXPLAINED

Pork roasting on the red hot stones of smoking hangis, Maoris weaving flax baskets, and a wide collection of exhibits bearing on the life of the Maori in times of war and peace is serving to give pupils of the - Normal School, Epsom, greater appreciation of

early New Zealand flistory. T>EALISING the value of practical demonstration as a means of impressing upon the minds of children, and also realising the need for greater interest in New Zealand history, the headmaster, Mr. Varley Hudson, and his staff, have arranged a Maori demonstration at the school which, judging by the interest being displayed by the children, must be attended with gratifying results.

The assistance of Te Akarana Maori Association,' museum authorities, and parents of the children was sought, and in every instance was readily given. From the museum, many of the parents, and from prilate collectors in Auckland have come many interesting Maori relics. These have been displayed in one of the large classrooms and, in conjunction with lecturettes on Maori life, the object and use of the various articles have been explained. Through the aid of Te Akarana Maori Association the services of a number of Maoris have been obtained, and in the school ground this morning a practical demonstration of the domestic science of the Maori was given. The aid of the senior boys was enlisted in the building of the hangis. Trenches were dug, stones gathered and the fires lighted. Meanwhile, the girls, under the direction of their Maori mentors, were busily employed preparing kumeras and pork, and plaiting flax cooking baskets, at which they proved surprisingly adept. In a very short time an appetising aroma indicated that the cooking was well under way. In the well-equipped museum arranged in the school, classes in turn were instructed in numerous phases of Maori life and the early history of Auckland. INTERESTING RELICS On a blackboard running almost the length of one side of the room, stu-

dents from the Training College nearby had shown in coloured chalks the landing of Captain Cook. The work had been artistically carried out and the scene was faithfully depicted. A large model of Auckland city in 1544 showed the advance of civilisation in the young country. Wellknown landmarks such as the first St. Paul’s Church on Point Britomart, Victoria Hotel and many other buildings that existed in those days served to emphasise the subsequent growth of the city. Shortland Street was the waterfront those days, and only a very small portion of Queen Street appeared. Muskets, spears and swords, relics of the Maori wars, were displayed and informatively described, and the handiwork of the Maori in constructing weapons of war and the implements necessary for the maintenance of food supplies, was convincingly demonstrated by a large range of exhibits, not the least interesting of which were well-constructed models of Maori pas.

The demonstration concluded this afternoon, when pupils from the two Maori colleges, St. Stephen’s and Queen Victoria Girls’ School, attended and gave a number of Maori songs, poi dances and games for the entertainment and instruction of their young Pakeha friends.