MAORI HOUSE DESTROYED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 161, 6 January 1912, Page 3

MAORI HOUSE DESTROYED.

ITS INTERESTING HISTORY. Tlie Takitunm—so called after the canoe iu which the .Maoris came to New Zealand from Hawaiiki —which was destroyed by lire recently, near Martinborough, was carved at Papawai by people of the Xgatipo and Te Kooti tribes who came from the East Coast, and were something like 40 in number. This work ■ occupied about three years in completion, ami after that it was suggested by the chief Te Kooti that the house should be erected at Tableland, about four miles east of Martinborough, in the South Wairarapa. In IS:H. the whole of the carved timber wa-. i-;. i n-.l down to the scene, with the exception oi' the ridge pole—a ' massive piece aboni rei'l in length. This wa.- sailed down in.' noauiahanga river, and the carved l:-'.;i-e was erected where il has since *lood a. nninument to the patience of the race and to their skill in clii-el work. About the year 1801 or ISJI2 the great warrior Te. Kooti visited the Wairarapa 10 attend the opening ceremony, which <•'•<), place, at that time. The original ovja .' of the building was Maiiiliei'-ii Iv'ang;!;;:.; i-.a'io, of the Xgatimoe tribe, but he died before its completion. The buiid'vg was used as a meet-ing-bouse, and :■.■■■! bci the scene of many noted gatherings of the natives. In 1S!)S. Tamahan Mahupnku, the then principal owner, roi eived an oll'er of .CIHMIO for the cir\ed lioii-e. The offer wa- made bv Me-rs Fitzgerald lirns.. i the well-known circus proprietors, who I proposed exhibiting- the. famous piece of I Maori craftsmanship in the large cities I of (ireat "Britain and 'Europe. The chief I refused to accept the oll'er, and subseliiuentlv decHned other offers. i '