DYING NATIVE ART.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 71, 23 March 1916, Page 7

DYING NATIVE ART.

AcoCrding to an official at the Ngaruawahia regatta, held on St. Patick's Day, there is a danger of the most popular feature, th e war canoe race, being abandoned. The reason given for this possibility is that the old canoe builders are dying out, and the Maori of succeeding generations is neglecting to learn the art of canoe-making. There is also a difficulty experienced in obtaining near the river in the Ngar.uawahia district trees of sufficient size for the purpose, which are about 75ft. long, fashioned out of a single log. The Tangitekiwi, the finest war ca,noe at the regatta, was built seven years ago, and since then at every Ngaruawahia • fixture has been the winning boat. On St. Patrick's Day the canoe again earned the victors. Unfortunately, the Tangitekiwi is now in a rotting state, and it is probable that it will not be' sound enough to oppear in any further contests. It is believed that there is only one canoebuilder in the Ngaruawahia district who could build a successor to the victorious Tangitekiwi.