Wahanui's Little Calabash.

The Chief Wahanui, the Kingite “power behind the throne,” who was in Wellington on Rohepotae business, was asked to give evidence before the Committee. He gave it as his opinion that the Stratford route passed through better land than the proposed Central line. He was questioned as to whether he would give his page 28 page 29 support to the making of a railway through the Maori country. He made a non-committal reply. “The little matter that I have brought down in my calabash” [kiaka was the term for the gourd calabash used by the Ngati-Maniapoto] “have not been attended to; and before replying to your question I would like to have my own matters put right. It will not do for me to give way all at once without some concessions on the other side. If the Government will only assist me in the object for which I have come to Wellington I will do all in my power to assist the Government in carrying out this matter, and I will be very strong to give effect to the wishes of the Government with regard to this railway making.”

An admirable, diplomatic reply. The shrewd big chief of the Rohepotae made it clear that he was striking a bargain with the Government. Presumably the contents of his business “calabash” were attended to to his satisfaction, for a few months later (April 1885) he and his fellow chiefs, Taonui and Rewi, joined in turning the first sods of the line on the bank of the Punui River, with Mr. Stout, the then Premier of the Colony; and so began the transformation of the King Country. The Committee reported that it recommended the Central Route as the best for the railway.

The rest is familiar history, the slow but steady construction of the 210 miles link between the two rail-heads and the completion of through railway connection between Wellington and Auckland in 1908.