AN HISTORIC TREE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81916, 14 January 1907, Page 4

AN HISTORIC TREE.

Till-: HUNT KABAKA. A mutter of historical value to theMaori race and to the colonv as a whole came forward at Monday's meeting of Hip l'at"a Harbor Board (.ays the local Press). The Ucv. 'J', (i. Hammond waited on the Board on holia'i of the natives from llangiliket to Oeo. who wo'.'o doseendaiil: of the. natives who landed in New '/.ea'siud from tlie canoe "Antf-a." When their forefatliers lirst arrived thev made the:r ]ii'rmaneiil home on the south bank of (lie l'atea river. They brought villi lliem amongst oilier seed' ttaf of the Icavaka 'iree. and tho-e thev planted on the northern hank. These grew till Uio war. when the hist was destroved. Tliere had been no growth since, Imt the nalives said if the land were protected from the cattle and horses now grazing on it thev would ".row attain. 'J'licv were anxious lo have the land protected and he was Iheiv In ask tie- Hoard to fence in fins historic spot. Pelsonnliv he could not give its cxicl location' but he knew of Maoris who could. He suggested that it he fenced in and he would get Hie native-; lo plant iiax, wild- the'citizens night he induced 10 plant tms.

Alter some discussion as to the ,pof which it i.-> believed was in the vicinity of the dill's just above the Western Wall, an old map was produced showing a .Maori reserve of two and a quarter acres. The l!ev. Hammond was inclined to think that this was where Hie Mauea. a very sacred stone, was deposited. Referring' to his original ropiest no said all the natives were very anxious about the matter and the movement was spontaneous from one end of til2 district to the other. It was finally decided that the chairman and secretary together with the Bcv. Hammond and natives, visit the spt t and draw up a scheme io be submitted to the Board at next meeting.