MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1940, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

ONCE A DESERT—MOW PARADISE. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Kainga Roa (the long place) 90 miles from north to south, a vast plain of pumice, is evidence of the past volcanic action in the centre of the North Island, which Maori legend traces back six. centuries. Hitherto regarded as barren and valueless, we have recently discovered in it two great assets yet to be utilised. For roads, bridges, and buildings it forms a smooth light concrete, one fifth the weight of that produced by ordinary metal. The only handicap to its being shipped abroad for these purposes in vast quantities is its feathery lightness, which cannot be compressed to a reasonable space for shipment. Of far greater value and now first realised, is its capacity for growing timber on a huge scale for building, fuel and shipment. Maori legend says it was a vast forest of timber suitable for all utilities, which was reduced to ashes by volcanic eruptions, and subsequently levelled by a dust of fea-ther-weight pumice falling day and night for years, during which the sun was never seen. Then it remained barren until thoroughly soaked and solidified, when deep-rooted European trees were introduced with splendid results. Up to that time the Whanaki (cabbage tree) seeds dropped by birds, found the fertile soil, and grew to great size. In 1871 the surveyors felled one 30 feet, in circumference. Its vitality was shown by the forest of green leaves shooting out around the stump as a boon to travellers' horses in this otherwise desert plain.