150 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



happened does not appear clearly, but subsequently Moe, with 

 bis people, went to Pitt Island (Rangiauria), where the Makas 

 and Harua people insulted him by cursing him, upon which he 

 attacked them, killing and eating several of them. Later on, 

 however, they retaliated by burning Moe and his people in their 

 houses at night. This was stated by some to be incorrect, but 

 the statement was clear and distinct, while the fact that Moe's 

 name no longer appeared in evidence after that appears to 

 substantiate the story of his death. In commemoration of his 

 doings there are two Umu-a-moe, one on Chatham and one on 

 Pitt Island, while his spear is commemorated by a long volcanic 

 dyke of rock running into the Whanga Lagoon, called Ko Tao-a- 

 moe (Moe's spear). 



But to revert to Nunuku, who was said to be a tipuna (ancestor) 

 of Moe's, and, from the action he took, quite a unique personage. 

 When Moe and party came to attack the Moreroa people, by 

 some means or other he managed to help them in eluding Moe, 

 who would not harm him. The story says that he smuggled them 

 through a cave, under the Moreroa cliffs (of limestone formation) 

 on the Whanga shore, in which he is said to have dwelt, and 

 which is called after him Tehana-a-nunuku (Nunuku's cave). 

 Through this cave it was alleged there was a passage under- 

 ground of about two miles, which had its exit at Tauarewa, in 

 Petre Bay, through which the Moreroa escaped. Regarding the 

 cave, there was a pool of water in front which was stated to be of 

 recent occurrence, and that it was dry and had been slept in 

 formerly, but beyond the immediate circumference of the cave 

 there did not appear to be any passage, while on the Tauarewa 

 side there is no indication whatever of a passage or exit — if 

 there was one it must now be covered up with sand. Also, 

 there was a flat stone, said to be the door of the cave, which some- 

 how disappeared or was broken, and could not be found, although 

 wi'll known tot lie Morioris. 



But the unique and historical fact that remained was that 

 Nunuku about this time proclaimed a law which was honoured 

 and kept, until the Maori invasion, and which in fact is still ob- 

 served. " ; Ko r>> patu tangata, me tapu io-a he " (Manslaying must 

 cease henceforth for ever). Further, that when feelings or 

 honour were outraged by insult or otherwise they tnighl have an 

 encounter with their twpuraus (a long pole or kind of quarter- 

 staff, which they used in their so-called lights or tau taua). 

 After joining issue, the first blow which made an abrasion of the 

 skin or drew blood ended the tray, the injured or wounded 

 party exclaiming " E ka pakaru tange nei wpoko" (0, my head 

 is broken); although it did not appear to prevent the injured 

 warrior at a future time returning to obtain in like manner 



