Ngatangiia

Some Old Glory is Restored

FOR over 40 years the little harbour at Ngatangiia, in Rarotonga, has saen nothing but fishing canoes and the craft of the local sailing club.

It is a beautiful spot, protected by four small islets, with a large gap in the reef through which the tide swirls with con siderable force. The little stream which, running down the Avena Valley from the hills, first formed this gap has, during the century since the surrounding bush was cleared, silted up the lagoon- It is from Ngatangiia (named for Tan giia, the Samoan warrior) that the Maoris are reputed to have sailed on their voyages to New Zealand. It was here that the infamous Captain Good enough, the first European to visit the island, put ashore. Near Ngatangiia, natives will show you the glade where some of the rioting ship’s crew were killed.

The first church on the island was built at the water’s edge and subsequently destroyed by a terrific hurricane. Here, Queen Pa held sway in the days of the federal government, fining illicit sweet hearts and dilatory church-goers with equal impartiality.

On the reef, for many years, lay the bones of the village schooner, “Taki tumu,” which was abandoned in disgust when the local treasurer made off with the cash.

NGATANGIIA fell on bad days. The seat of government was established at Avarua, on the other side of the island, and the harbour became so shal low that it was no longer used by the schooners. The villagers resorted to fish ing and the cultivation of their over worked lands.

It was with agreeable surprise, there fore, that the village folk heard that a ketch would shortly enter the harbour for beaching and overhaul, during the hurri cane season.

The great day arrived. Hundreds of people lined the shore, while the older folk reminisced of bygone days. As the ketch entered the reef her auxiliary engine failed- For a moment, things looked bad; but four fishing canoes sped to the rescue, and towed the little vessel through to safety.

A feast was prepared to celebrate the occasion, and the crew was presented with, a surfeit of chickens and native foods.

The port of Ngatangiia had re-opened for business. —RI.