Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/20

4 due to the discovery of greenstone by Ngahue in Westland is common to both.

H. D. Skinner, Otago University Museum, in a paper entitled “New Zealand Greenstone,” read before the Otago Institute, October, 1932, and later reprinted from “The Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand,” Vol. 65, 1935, under the heading of Maori Myths Relating to the Origin of Greenstone, makes the following interesting observations: “The myth relating to Ngahue and his connection with greenstone has been collected from various Maori tribes, and each account has variations of its own. The following appear to be the most important points: Hine-tu-a-hoanga (Lady of the Grindstone, personification of the grindstone) was antagonistic to Poutini (personification of greenstone); Poutini belonged to Ngahue, and lived in Hawaiki; Ngahue fled overseas with his “fish,” as the Maoris described greenstone. One version states that he rode his fish. They reached Tuhua Island in the Bay of Plenty, an island which yields the best quantities of obsidian and has given its name to that material. Thence they were driven by the Lady of the Grindstone. Quarrels between Poutini, on the one hand, and Waiapu (a stone used in making adzes), and Mataa (flint) are recorded, and finally Ngahue fled to the West Coast of the South Island and hid Poutini in the bed of the Arahura. Ngahue tore off the side of his fish