626 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



bark fibre of the auie, but the more rigorous cHmate of New 

 Zealand demanded something better. Doubtless this was the 

 reason why the culture of the aute, or paper-mulberry, was 

 almost abandoned here, the fibre thereof being in later times 

 merely used to construct flying-kites, or as covering for the 

 symbol of an ahia (god). 



Thus the Polynesian migrant would turn his attention to 

 searching for a stronger and more lasting material with which 

 to clothe himself. This he found in the fibres of the harakeke 

 (Phormium tenax), the toi (Cordyline mdivisa), and kiekie 

 {Freycinetia banksii). These he utilised, and, as time passed 

 on, there came the knowledge of how^ to prepare and weave 

 these fibres into suitable garments. And although but a 

 hand-vv^eaver, yet has the Maori acquired the art of making 

 cloaks and other articles of a very close, neat, and durable 

 nature. Many of their finer cloaks were very beautiful, and 

 Maori weaving must not be judged by the articles made by 

 them for sale to Europeans. 



I was fortunate in finding here in Tuhoe Land some of the 

 elder people who yet retain much of this interesting and 

 ancient knowledge of the art of weaving, and also in inducmg 

 them to weave in the old style some of the garments of bygone 

 days, that the same may be placed in various museums in the 

 colony, and thus conserving, by these various illustrations, the 

 knowledge of this art as it was taught in the ivhare para of 

 old. 



In the realm of Tuhoe every important village possessed 

 certain houses which were specially built for, and devoted to, 

 the study and prosecution of various matters important to the 

 Maori. We will give the names of these, and purposes for 

 which they were used : — 



The Whare Maire, or Whare Takiura. — This was a sacred 

 house set apart for the teaching of the ancient history, 

 genealogies, religion, &c., of the tribe. It was the head 

 university and Herald's College of the district. 



The Whare Mata. — This house was devoted to Tane, god 

 of forests. In it was taught and carried on the manufacture 

 of snares, traps, and other devices for the taking of birds ; 

 also certain rites pertaining to such matters were here per- 

 formed. 



The Whare Tapere. — This was the house of pleasure, 

 where the young people of the village met at night to play the 

 various games of old. It was devoted solely to amusement, 

 the allurements of the rehia* The presiding deities of this 

 house were Takataka-putea and Marere-o-tonga, who were 

 the parents or inventors of all games. 



Rehia = pleasure, amusement. An ancient term. 



