TRADITIONS AND LEGENDS. 
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fear of frost ; Maka signifies to cast into the ground, as the 
seed kumara ; Paiake means a root, these also may be figura- 
tive of summer. When the Kawe kawea first arrives its cry 
is Kui kui “ it's cold, it’s cold,” but afterwards as the season 
advances it changes its note to Witi ora, witi ora, “ it's warm, 
it’s warm.” 
MATUA KOBE WITHOUT FATHER. 
Matua kore was the name of a celebrated taiaha, a spear 
which was supposed to possess peculiar virtue and super- 
natural powers. It was owned by the Nga-ti-mania-poto, 
but originally belonged to Hore, a chief who gained three 
battles with it over the Ngatiawa. Te Tauri the chief of 
Ngatituwharetoa asked for this taiaha and it was given up to 
him, he used to keep it constantly enveloped in its covering 
except when he heard of the approach of an enemy at which 
times he consulted it as an oracle, for the purpose of 
ascertaining what success he should have if he met the 
enemy, he decided by the appearance of the red feathers 
with which the head of the taiaha was ornamented, if on 
removing its envelope they appeared a bright flaming red, 
the omen was considered favorable ; if on the contrary a 
dull or dusky red it was a bad omen and foreboded defeat 
to its owner. 
Te Tauri gained two victories with Matua kore, at the end 
of the second battle it was lost, Ko Pataua the first battle, 
Ko Kurawi the second. The Ngatiraukawa were their foes, 
they were beaten, and had nearly all retreated ; Te Tauri 
had knocked down two men with one stroke of Matua kore, 
their names were Matua and Tangata, whilst Te Tauri was 
busy despatching Matua with his mere pounamu, Tangata 
got up and seizing the taiaha made off with it : being 
evening, Te Tauri was unable to recover his treasure and the 
tribe into whose possession Matua kore fell, were afraid to 
keep such a celebrated weapon openly, it was therefore 
disfigured; they adzed off the carving of the tongue and 
concealed the weapon in the earth, thus it was lost. 
