The History of Taranaki

Preface

. The Establishment of the European Settlements of Taranaki was attended with no ordinary difficulty. Not only had the heroic pioneers to contend with the primeval wilderness which received them when they landed on the Taranaki shores, and a barbarous and turbulent race of aborigines, but also with the inability of the Plymouth and New Zealand Companies to fulfil in a satisfactory manner the work of colonisation which they had undertaken. The records of these proceedings are few and very scarce, death has removed some of the chief actors in them and age has dimmed the memories of others ; it seemed therefore right to me, having a love for the work and having more than ordinary opportunities for its accomplishment, to collect, arrange, and publish all the more important documents and traditions relating to these affairs.

My labors having been brought to a close, I am able now to present to my fellow settlers a lasting memorial of those truly heroic deeds in which a majority of them have taken part, and which have happily resulted in the foundation of a beautiful home for us in a fertile land and under genial skies, and hi adding another Province to that Empire on which the sun never sets. I am persuaded that this little work will be generally welcomed in the Province whose history it relates, and that it will have the use of all history by

PREFACE.

. extending the lives of its readers into the past by leading them to the sources of existing things, and therefore to a deeper comprehension of them, and by examples of heroism and patient endurance incite a repetition of such virtues. I desire very cordially to express my thanks for aid rendered to me in the preparation of this work to F. A. Carrington, Esq., M.H.R., late Superintendent of Taranaki ; Major Charles Brown, Civil Commissioner; R. Parris, Esq., late Civil Commissioner; Major Charles Stapp, Commanding Taranaki Militia and Volunteers ; C. D. Whitcombe, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands ; Mrs. S. Popham King; Miss Kate Flight ; G. D. Hamerton, Esq., Coroner ; J. B. Lawson, Esq. , Clerk to the Provincial Council of Taranaki; Mr. F. TJ. Gledhill, and Mr. Max. D. King. In passing the work through the press I have received eveiy assistance from Messrs. Edmondson and Avery, the printers. B. Wells. " News Office," New Plymouth, March 31st, 1878. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Page

Maori traditions respecting the Morioris. — Resemblance of the Maoris to a tribe in India. — Affinity of the Maori and Indo-European tongues. — Resemblance of Maori customs with those of a tribe in China and with those of the ancient Africans. — Indian ship's bell found in New Zealand. — Remarkable resemblance of some Maori and Egyptian words 1

Chapter II

The canoes of the Maori immigrants. — The naming of the Taranaki rivers and hills. — The Etymology of some Maori common names. — The arrival of the Ngatiawa at the Bay of Islands — They double the North Cape and enter the Waitara — They subdue the aborigines and establish themselves at Ngapuketurua — They roam about the island — They send a taua to assist Rauparaha — They flee to the Chatham Islands, and return to Taranaki — The location of the hapus. — Maori antiquities 4

Chapter III

Description of Pukerangiora.— Description of Ngamotu. — Waikato spies arrive in a canoe. — War party of Waikatos arrive at Waitara — The assault on Pukerangiora — The Massacre of the Garrison — The cannibal feast — The attack and defence of Ngamotu — The defeat and retreat of the Waikatos. — Visit to Poarama 7

Chapter IV

Discovery of New Zealand. — Juan Fernandez. — Tasman sights Taranaki. — Captain Cook names Mount Egmont. — M. Marion du Fresne 12

Chapter V

Commerce with New Zealand. — Arrival of the Missionaries. — Kororareka The British Resident. — Native Confederation.— The New Zealand Company— Grant of Charter — Difficulties of the Company — Relinquishment of Charter— Debt Cancelled 15

Chapter VI

Despatch of the Tory — Arrival of the Tory in Cook Strait. — Richard Barrett. — Guard the whaler. — Wreck of the Harriet. — Rev. H. Williams. — E. Puni and Warepori. — Sale of land by Ngatiawa. — Colonel Wakefield sails northward — Anchors off the Sugarloaves. — Dr. Dieffenbach and Barrett land at Ngamotu CONTENTS. II

Chapter VII. Page

Dr Dieffenbach obtains a view of Egmont and Ruapahu—Descnption of the Ngamotu rocks— Description of the Huatoki, Henui, and Waiwakaiho rivers— Starts for the Mountain— Travels up the right bank of the Waiwakaiho— Returns unsuccessful to Ngamotu— Makes a second attempt to reach the Mountain— The ascent— Returns to Ngamotu -Starts to the Waitara— Visits Mokau— Buys the land of the natives.— The deed of sale 16

Chapter VIII

New Zealand made a dependency of New South Wales.— Captain Hobson appointed Lieutenant-Governor.— Mr. Somes remonstrates with Lord Pahnerston.— Arrival of Governor Hobson.— The Treaty of Waitangi. — A French expedition arrives at Akaroa 43

Chapter IX

The establishment of the Plymouth Company.— Despatch of the Chief Surveyor. — Taranaki overland exploring expedition— The expedition reaches Ngamotu.— Colonel Wakefield's letter to the Plymouth Company. — The prospectus of the Company. — Arrival of Mr. Carrington in Wellington — He sails in the Brougham on an expedition in search of a site for a settlement— Selects Taranaki— Lands at Ngamotu with his staff 48

Chapter X

Despatch of the William Bryan.— Failure of Wright's Bank.— Port to be called Port Eliot. — Mr. Cutfield's letter describing the landing of the pioneers. — Commencement of trouble with the natives. — Mr. Cutfield sows the first European seeds. — Despatch of the Amelia Thompson — Farewell dinner at Plymouth — God Speed the Ship. — Bahia. — Arrival at New Plymouth. — Arrival and wreck of the Regina. — Arrival of the Oriental. — Captain Liardet 59

Chapter XI

Governor Hobson — His service in the Royal Navy — Attempts to establish a town at the Bay of Islands — Founds Auckland — Opposes the settlement of Wanganui and Taranaki — Constitutes a Legislative Council. — Te Kaka of Waikato visits Taranaki to claim the land by right of conquest.- Governor Hobson purchases the rights of Waikato — Proclaims a commission to inqmWinto land claims by Europeans. — Mr. Spain appointed commissioner. — New Zealand constituted a distinct Colony. — The Governor attempts to curtail the New Plymouth settlement. — Financial difficulties of the Government. — Governor Hobson's death 74

Chapter XII

Arrival of the Timandra. — Moorings laid in the roadstead. — Colonel Wakefield visits the settlement— Appoints Mr. Wicksteed Resident Agent. — Mr. Wicksteed's report. — Death of Mr. C. Brown, senr. The Nairn's employed to open a bridle path behind the Mountain. Quarrels between settlers and natives. — Introduction of horses. The Chief Surveyor's horse. — State of the settlement — Return of the Ngatiawa slaves. — The first Waiwakaiho bridge. — Arrival of the Blenheim. — Another quarrel with the natives CONTENTS. III

Chapter XIII. Page

Arrival of the Essex. — Captain Cooke drives cattle and sheep from Wellington.— Mr. E. J. Wakefield visits the settlement.— Reduction of expenditure. —Notice to the Chief Surveyor that his services are no longer required.— Arrival of the Thomas Sparks.— Reduction of wages. — The Wairau massacre. — Governor Shortland 's proclamation.' — Mr. Wicksteed's report. — Erection of the first mill aud brewery. — Appointment of Rev. W. Bolland.— Arrival of the William Stoveld.— Arrival of the Himalaya. — Governor Fitzroy 93

Chapter XIV

Scarcity of food. — Natives cut the timber on Captain Cooke's section at Te Hua. — State of the settlement. — Arrival of the Theresa — Mutiny on board. — Arrival of the Bella Marina.- -Arrival of Colonel Wakefield and Mr. Commissioner Spain. — Mr. Spain's award. — Threatenings of the natives. — Messengers despatched to Auckland. — Arrival of the Governor by H.M.S. Hazard, and of Bishop Selwyn, Rev. J. Whiteley and Mr. Maclean overland. — Temporary conciliation of the natives effected. — Governor again visits the settlement and reduces New Plymouth to a block of 3,500 acres. — Extracts from the reports of Messrs. Forsaith and Maclean. — Extract of a letter from the Rev. John Whiteley.— Wi Kingi's letter to the Governor. — Other reports and letters relating to the affairs of the settlement 102

Chapter XV

Rev S. Marsden. Rev. J. F. Cliurton. The Church Society for New Zealand. Arrangement for the endowment of a Bishopric. Despatch of Mr. Wicksteed to the colony as agent. Nomination of Rev. G. A. Selwyn to the office of Bishop — Consecration — Presentation of Communion service at Windsor — Description of the service. The Bishop sails for Sydney. His arrival in Auckland — His tour of his diocese — Description of his journey to New Plymouth. Waimate College. Cathedral library. First confirmation. The Company's grant for churches. Appointment of Itev. W. Bolland to New Plymouth — His zeal. Church building committee — Collecting materials — Laying the first stone. Fever in the parsonage. Death of Tiev. W. Bolland. Appointment of Rev. H. Govett, B.A. Brief notice of other clergymen. Roman Catholic Church.

Appointment of Bishop Pompallier by Pope Gregory XVI — Lands in the North — Takes up his abode at the Bay of Islands. Father Pezant visits Taranaki. Chapel built iu Courtenay-street. Arrival of Father Tressallet. Church built in Devon-street. Rev. Father Pertius. Rev. Father Rolland — His bravery. Fathers Binfiekl aud Lampillia. Wesleyan Methodist Church. Mission established at Wangaroa — Missionaries driven away. Re-establishment of the Mission at Hokianga. Mr. Creed sent to Ngamotu. Mr. Skevington sent to Taranaki proper. Wesleyan Chapel built in Brougham-street. Captain King and Mr. Wicksteed wish to hold a horticultural show in the chapel and are refused. Wesleyans ordered to remove their chapel. Mr. Groube commences the erection of a sandstone chapel in Courtenay-street — Sells it to the Wesleyans.

Mr. Turton. The Grey Institution. Death of Mr. Skeviugton. Arrival of Mr. Whiteley. Mr. Ironside. Other Ministers. Primitive Methodist Church. Origin of Primitive Methodism. Bible Christians. Mr. Veale gives a site for a chapel. Mr. Ward preaches on the town bridge— Bible Christians accept him as their minister — Takes up his residence at Te Henui — Attempts to preach to the Maoris who threaten to tomahawk him — Succeeded by Mr. Long. CONTENTS. IV Mr. PAGE. Chapels built at Bell Block and Hurdon. Return of Mr. V\ ard— His sufferings during the war. Erection of Queen-street chapel. Arrival of Mr and Mrs. Waters. Arrival of Messrs. Dumbell, Standnn ana Clover. Congregationalism in New Plymouth. Mr. Groube arrives in the Timandra— Conducts service in a raupo whare— Attempts to erect a sandstone chapel in Courtenay-street-Builds a timber chapel in Devon-street.

His sufferings during the war. Leaves for Mel bourne. Presbyterianism in Taranaki. Rev. J. Thorn visits the settlement— Conducts the service in the Independent Chapel— Induces the Military Settlers to petition the Church of Scotland tor a Minister. The ordination of the Rev. R. F. Macnicol— His arrival. The building of the kirk. Mr. Macnicol accepts a call from Auck land. Rev. T. Blain. Lay Ministry. Rev. M. S. Breach. Death of Rev. J. Thorn. The Baptist cause. Laying foundation stone of chapel. The trustees. Building shut up 122

Chapter XVI

Day goes to Sydney in the Slaines Castle to buy cattle and goods. The Paul Jones conveys eighteen despairing settlers to Adelaide. Maoris build a church at Mangoraka of materials stolen from the settlers. Dreadful storm and loss of the schooner Richmond on Kawhia bar. W. Bayly's barn and wheat stack burned at Mangoraka. Mr. Bolland returns from Auckland overland with the news of the appointment of a new Governor. Sir George Grey — His birth and education— Joins the 83rd Regiment— Commands an expedition sent to the interior of Australia— Assumes the Governorship of Australia — Arrives in Auckland— Brings the war in the North to a close — Is invested with the Star of the Order of the Bath— Chooses Tamati Waka Nene and Te Puni as his esquires— Settles the land claims in New Plymouth — Establishes Pensioner Settlements in Auckland — Delays the proclamation of the Constitution — Pveturns to England His literary works — He receives the degree of Doctor of Civil Laws at Oxford — Is appointed Governor of the Cape Colony — Is re appointed Governor of New Zealand — Tries diplomacy and fails — Breaks the power of Waikato — Treats his prisoners in a weak and ridiculous manner — Proceeds to England — Returns and retires to the Kawau— Accepts the office of Superintendent of Auckland — Enters Parliament and becomes Premier of the Colony.

Origin of the Union Mill. Arrival of the Marianne. Letter from Mr. Gladstone to Governor Grey. Suicide of Mr. Williams. Arrival of the Madras and Ralph Bernal. Constabulary Barracks built. Site and plan for the hospital. Bells Falls discovered. Arrival of the Elora. Death of Richard Barrett. Arrival of the Inflexible with Governor Grey. The Governor's instructions to Mr. Maclean. Quarrel among the Puketapu. Purchase of Tataraimaka. Death of Rev. W. Bolland. Mr. F. D. Bell supersedes Mr. Wicksteed as Resident Agent. Bishop Selwyn lands from the Undine. Quarrel between the Puketapus and Taranakis of Omata. Arrival of Lieutenant Collinson, R.E. and Corporal Henderson, R.A. on secret service. The Grey and Omata Blocks purchased. Land allotted to the whalers. Dr. Wilson and Mr. Hulke leave Wanganui for Taranaki.

Mr. Devenish brings a herd of cattle from Wellington. The Governor revisits New Plymouth. Mr. Bell purchases Bell Block of the Puketapu. The Waikanae migration. Kingi settles on the south bank of the Waitara. Opening of the Omata block. Establishment of the Grey Institution. Death of Colonel Wakefield. Severe earthquake. Table of Waikanae migration CONTENTS. V

Chapter XVII. Page

Depression. State of New Plymouth in 1849. Compensation. Arrival of the Barque Cornwall. Dates of Conveyances of Blocks. Major Lloyd molested at Omata 147

Chapter XVIII

Company resign their Charter to the Crown. Arrival of the Acheron. Consequences of gold discovery in Australia. The Taranaki Herald published. Constitution proclaimed. Reduction of price of Waste Lands of the Crown. Election of the first Superintendent. Election of the first members of the Provincial Council. Death of James Foreman. Departure of Sir George Grey. Severe earthquake. Difficulties of negotiation with the natives. Purchase of the Hua and Waiwakaiho Block. Te Puni seizes all the open land on the Block. Murder of a native at Kaipakopako. Death of Simon Crawley. Mary Rodgers murdered at Omata by Cassidy. A tract against land selling printed, and published among the natives. Deaths of Richard Eaton and William Holloway. Earthquake. Public Works Ordinance — First election under it. Arrival of Acting Governor Wynyard.

Arrival of the Duke of Portland with troops. The Bishop publishes a pastoral letter. Arrival of Governor Brown. Natives cut a line across the ranges 150 CHAPTER" XIX. The Puketapu hapu — Their ancient home. The chief Rawiri. Land-leaguers and anti-land-leaguers. Rawiri and his men while cutting a line are fired on by Katatore and his men. Deatn of Rawiri. Great excitement. Appeal to the Government. Colonel Wynyard fears to interfere with the matter. Efforts made to settfe the quarrel. Katatore offers land to the Government. Death of Rimene. Ngatiruanui besiege Ihaia — Ihaia retreats to Mahoetahi — Joins Arama Karaka. Settlers petition for military protection. Arrival of detachments of the 58th and 65th Regiments. Tragical death of Katatore. The burning of the Ikamoana pa. Ihaia retreats to Mimi. Ihaia Kirikumara ' 158

Chapter XX

Governor Gore Browne. Origin of the Anti-land-selling League. Origin of the King movement. Mr. Cutfield elected Superintendent. First publication of the Taranaki News. The second session of the Maori Parliament. Public Debt Apportionment Act. Calling out of the Taranaki Militia. Death of Captain Dawson. Death of John Wright. Change of the name of the Province to Taranaki 166

Chapter XXI

Puketapu natives receive payment for the Tarurutangi Block. Preparations for erecting a bridge over the Waiwakaiho. Volunteer regulations — Election of officers. Arrival of the Iris with the Governor. Conference with the natives. Te Teira of Waitara offers land to the Goveruor. Maori statistics. Opening of the Waiwakaiho bridge. The Council Chambers burnt. Contraction of the town of New Plymouth. Wiremu Kingi Whiti Rangitaki VI CONTENTS.

Chapter XXII. Page

The Taranaki war. Minutes of the Executive Council. Instructions to Mr. Parris. Natives stop the survey at the Waitara. Proclamation of martial-law. Settlers remove into New Plymouth. Commencement of hostilities. Defection of Manahi. Engagement at Waireka. Reports of the engagement. Narrow escape of Mr. Parris. Requests for aid made to the Australian Colonies. Arrival of reinforcements. Captain Richard Brown. Battle of Puketakauere. Death of Hugh Corbyn Harris. Death of John Hurford. Wreck of the George Henderson. Death of Ephraim Coad and Henry Crann. Attack on Mahoetahi. Death of John Hawken. Death of Joseph Sarten. Taking of Matarikoriko. Expedition to the South. Attack on the Huirangi Redoubt. Death of Captain W. C. King. The sap. Death of Captain Strange. Death of E. Messenger. Death of Lieutenant McNaughten 186

Chapter XXIII

Arrival of Tamihana. Hapurona hoists the white flag. Arrival of the Governor, Ministers, Mr. D. Maclean and Tamati Waka Nene. Arrival of General Cameron. Terms offered to the insurgents. Declaration of Hapurona. Sickness. Mr. C. Brown re-elected Superintendent. Arrival of reinforcements from India. Colors presented to the Taranaki Militia and Volunteers. Bank of New Zealand opened. Sir George Grey re-appointed Governor. Bishop Selwyn attempts to travel along the coast. Canon Stowell's opinion of the Taranaki settlers. Death of E. G. Wakefield. Wreck of the s.s. Lord Worsley. Wreck of the Orpheus. The Governor with his Ministers arrive by the Harrier for the purpose of reinstating the Province. Compensation. Troops take possession of Tataraimaka. Warning of ambuscades ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 226

Chapter XXIV

Massacre at Oakura. Abandonment of the Waitara purchase. Attack on Katikara. The Maori toll-gate. Hapurona sends a challenge. Rebels take possession of a spur of the Kaitake Ranges. A fishin" party of the rebels attacked by an ambuscade of the 58th Regiment near Kaitake. Death of Mr. Patterson. Rebels disturbed at Mangorei. Skirmish at Kaitake. Defeat at Ahuahu. Origin of Pai Marireism. Defeat of rebels at Sentry Hill. Capture of Manutahi, Mataitawa' and Te Arei. Colonel Maxwell Lepper. Disbanding of the old Mihtia. Native murders at Kaipikari. Death of Frank Roebuck General Cameron arrives at Patea. Military settlers aud Bushrangers embark for Patea. Accidents to the surf boats. Death of Jos°eph Hawke. Expedition embarks for the White Cliffs. Demand of the Imperial Government for payment for the troops employed in the Colony.

Scheme for the settlement of Tikorangi. Skirmish at Vvhatino. Colonel Warre attacks the rebels iuland of Warea Revocation of the proclamation of martial-law. Engagement at Warea. General Cameron resigns the command of the army in New Zealand. Wreck of the steam transport Alexandra. Arrival of General Lnute. Embarkation of the Imperial Forces 235

Chapter XXV

Confiscation— Military settlements. Arrival of Military settlers Lands proclaimed under the Military Settlements Act, 1S63. Area of lands confiscated. Exodus of Military settlers. Occupation of other CONTENTS, VII PAGE. confiscated lands. The Waste Lands Board. Establishment of Inglewood 257

Chapter XXVI

General Chute marches from Wanganui — Attacks Otapawa — Marches through the forest — Emerges at Mataitawa — His reception at New Plymouth — Proceeds to Patea. Waiwakaiho bridge swept away. Death of Roby, at Manutahi. First sale of land at Waitara. Disturbance at Patea. Attack at Turuturumokai. Capture of Te Ngutu o Te Manu. Repulse at Ruaruru. Major Von Tempsky. Repulse at Okutuku. The Brothers Hunter. The massacre at the White Cliffs. Rev. John Whiteley 265

Chapter XXVII

Peace. The iron sand. Provincial Government. Land fund. Local Government. Immigration and public works. New Plymouth harbor. Electric telegraph. Judicature. Literary Institute. Education. Hospital. Botanic Garden. Acclimatisation. Victories of peace ... 288

Chapter XXVIII

Taranaki pioneers. Mr. F. A. Carrington. Captain Henry King. Mr. Charles Brown, senr. Mr. Chilman 298 List of Ships 309 Bibliography THE HISTORY OF TARANAKI

Chapter I. The Maoris

fHERE is a tradition among the Maoris that thenforefathers came to New Zealand in certain canoes from a country called Hawaiiki, and that on their arrival they found the land thinly populated with a race short and plump, but physically inferior to themselves, called Moriori. The concluding part of this tradition is borne out by the fact of a people of that name and character having existed at the Chatham Islands withhi the memory of the present generation. It has also been confirmed by the discovery in the Waikato district of a number of skeletons arranged round a circular pit in an erect position, each with a block of wood upon its head, which was a mode of burial adopted in certain cases by the Morioris of the Chatham Islands. The Maoris are members of the brown portion of the Polynesian family, thenlanguage being a dialect of that spoken hi' the Sandwich Islands, and there are strong reasons for supposing that the family migrated from India at an early date.

Mr. Thomson, of Otago, who has spent many years hi India, says hi a valuable paper in the " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute " that there is in that country a people who bear a very strong resemblance to the Maoris. The fierceness of the passions of the Maori, and the occasionally dusky hue of his skin, would lead us to suppose that he has African blood in his veins, and Mr. Thomson supposes that the original inhabitants of India were Ethiopians and that they were driven out by the influx of Aryans. The analogy between the Maori and Indo-European tongues is very striking. Mr. Fairbum, writing on this subject hi the " Transactions," observes that " the definite and indefinite articles in Maori are te and he, the latter pronounced ha, which are nearly identical with the English the and a. The Maori ko is also interchangeable with our to, and like it is a sign of the dative case."

Mr. Fairbum also observes that " it is a mistake to suppose Maori to be a section of the Turanian group of tongues. It is rather a mixture of the Indo-European and Semitic. Maori — Moriori — Malay — Maure — Moor — the evident relationship between these names indicate that the Maori is a fierce cross between the Arab and the Ethiopian. Again, the name Maori seems to indicate that this people came from the East ; Maori — Malay — that is to say an inhabitant of Malacca or Malaka — bears evident affinity to the Maori words marangai the east, arangi rising, and maranga to arise. The Maori contains many old Arabic and Egyptian words." There is a singular circumstance in connection with this subject mentioned by Professor Max Muller in his " Chips from a German Workshop " — " In the Chinese province of Yunnan there are tribes of aborigines — not Chinese — called Mau-tze or soil-children, who salute as they did when first observed by Marco Polo in the thirteenth century by rubbing noses."

The identity of this mode of salutation with that practised by the Maoris, the approximation of their names hi sound and signification — for the word Maori signifies native — are at least very remarkable. Still more remarkable are the resemblances we can trace between existing Maori customs and some which have become obsolete among certain tribes of Africans. In Max Midler's review of the " Zulu Nursery Tales," by the Rev. H. Calloway of Natal, he says : — " There is one feature in these stories which to a great extent attests thenantiquity. Several of the customs to which they allude are no longer hi existence among the Zulus. It is not for instance any longer the custom among the natives of South Africa to bake meat by means of heated stones, the recognised mode of cooking among the Polynesians.

Yet when Usikulumi orders a calf to be roasted he calls upon the boys of the kraal to collect large stones and to heat them. There are several other peculiarities which the Zulus seem to share hi common with the Polynesians. The avoidhig of certain words which form part of the names of deceased kings or chieftains is a distinguishing feature of the Zulu and Poly nesian languages. If a person who has disappeared for some time and is supposed dead returns unexpectedly to his people, it is the custom both among the Zulus and Polynesians to salute him first by making a funeral lamentation. There are other coincidences in the stories of both races which make it more than probable that at some distant period they had lived either together or in close neighbourhood." ° A circumstance strongly tending to show that oceanic communication existed between India and New Zealand in ancient times is the fact that in the interior of the Northern Island of New Zealand part of a ship's bell has been found, bearing an inscription hi very ancient Tamil, which was thus translated in Ceylon : — " Mohoyden Buks Ship's Bell."

Proof is also not wanthig of an intimate connection between the Maori and the Egyptian at some very distant date. Ra is the term used by the Maori as expressive of day and the light of the sun, and it was used in precisely the same sense by the ancient Egyptians. A magnificent hymn to the sun, recently translated by HISTORY OP TARANAKI. 3 M. Marietta and attributed to the 12th Dynasty, begins thus : — " Thou awakenest beneficially Ammon-Ra." In the Egyptian Ritual of the Dead the Divinity is made to say, " I am Ra, at his rising in the beginning, he who governs that he has made." In the Egyptian Trinity Ra is also the solar agent. The idea is also entertained that Pharaoh, the general title of the kings of Egypt, corresponds to the Egyptian phra or ra the " sun," which is written as an hieroglyphic symbol over the titles of kings.

The similarity in sound and meaning of the Egyptian word typhon with that of the Maori taipo, both being the name of the Spirit of Evil, is also not a little remarkable.

Chapter II. The History Of The Ngatiawa Tribe

CJi CCORDING to the tradition of the tribes the ancestors of the i\ Maoris came to New Zealand hi several successive migrations. The first canoe that reached this country was named Mata hourua, and was commanded by a chief named Kupe, who took possession of the country by naming all the mountains and rivers from Wanganui to Patea. The next canoe that arrived was called Aotea, and was commanded by the chief Turi, who gave names to all the rivers and mountains from Patea to Aotea. Some of these names are poetical, most are expressive, some are gross, and of some the meaning is obscure. Taranaki, the name given to the great mountain, is derived from tara, a peak or prominence, and naki probably from ngaki, clear from vegetation, signifying the barren or treeless mountain. It was customary hi old times for the distant tribes to call this mountain Pukehaupapa, which is a common appellation for a snow clad moimtahi like Mount Taranaki.

Waitara, one of the most considerable rivers in the Taranaki district, signifies mountain stream. Te Henui, another river, signifies the great sin. Huatoki, fruitful hi worms. Tapuae, the echo of footsteps. Oakura, the spot where the sun lingers. Among the rocks and capes — - Paritutu, the great sugarloaf rock, signifies the rising precipice ; Moturoa, the tali Island ; Motumahanga, the twin isiand ; Ngamotu, the islands, and Omata, near to the headiand or cape. According to Mr. John White the ancestors of the Ngatiawa came to New Zealand in a canoe named Tokomaru, commanded by the chief Manaia, who having murdered a number of men who were working for him felt himself under the necessity of seeking fresh fiefds. Manaia made the sand in the vicinity of the Bay of Islands, and coasting along he doubled the North Cape, stretched along the bight of the West Coast and eventually entered the Waitara river where he took up his abode.

From this latter circumstance the tribe took its name Ngatiawa, signifying the tribe of the river. Manaia found the district occupied by a tribe called Ngatimokotorea of whom he had not previously heard. They were not a warlike race and were easily overcome by the new arrivals. Manaia killed many of them, others escaped, and a portion of them intermingled with the conquerors. Tradition assigns Ngapuketurua as the most ancient settlement of the Ngatiawa. This place is situated on the west bank of the Waiongona river among a number of singular volcanic hills, and has been more recently called Mahoetahi, or the grove of mahoe trees. This spot seems to have been chosen for the large extent of "ood land in its vicinity, and from the facility it afforded for forming a number of fortified villages.

The Ngatiawa are said to have been in old times a very restless race, and of all the tribes in New Zealand they were the most numerous and powerful. They are now located in the north end of the North Island, in the Bay of Plenty, at Taranaki, on both shores of Cook Strait, and at the Chatham Islands. They migrated first to the Bay of Plenty, and after a brief stay there went up the East Coast to the Thames, and ultimately to the North Cape. In the course of their wanderings they drove the tribes out of each district which they visited. They overran all the Ngapuhi district in the north, and were the cause of that portion of the Ngatiwhatua, who were located at the North Cape, coming south and joining the main body at Kaipara, and having by force of numbers taken all the land on the west coast to the north of Wangarei, they claimed it as their rightful property, not only by the law of might, but also because of having buried their dead in the sacred places of the tribes of the land.