MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

MUKA OR WHITAU. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The earliest attempt to grow New Zealand flax (harakeke) from seed pods near London was made in 1813. The experiment was not a success, but Freycinet grew it in France in that year. The stalk (korari) caused great excitement. being described as "Four lines in circumference at the base, seven feet six inches high, with 109 flowers of a greenish-yellow colour. Ropes made from the leaves by a simple process proved to be stronger than other fibres.” Attempts were later made in Sydney. Paris and London to spin the fine Maori dressed flax (muka) into cloth, but the gum which held the short fibres together was said to be an obstacle. Boiling it in potash was also a failure. Attention was then given to making ropes for sailing ships. It was preferred to Russian hemp, but subsequently displaced by manila. The fibre dressed by the Maoris was said to be, in its raw state, infinitely stronger than any other flax or hemp, yet it was for some unknown reason not suitable for clothing. Dressed by machinery, the fibre is described as “crushed.” The Maori system was to lay the green leaf across the bare thigh, after splitting it with the thumb nail, grown long for that purpose, press the sharp edge of a pupu (mussel shell) on it firmly, then draw it sharply through, scraping off the green surface. Rope and twine factories at Portsmouth in 1819 reported upon the Maori dressed muka as “excellent.” About 100 tons per annum were exported during the early years; but machinery dressing is not even now a satisfactory substitute.