Austral English Part 287

"Raupo whares were put up."

1889. `Cornhill Magazine,' Jan., p. 35:

"Ten minutes more brought us to my friend's `whare,'--the Maori name for house."

1886. `Otago Witness,' Jan. 23, p. 42:

"The pas close at hand give up their population,--only the blind, the sick, and the imbecile being left to guard the grimy, smoke-dried whares."

Whata, n. Maori word for a storehouse on posts or other supports, like a Pataka (q.v.). Futtah (q.v.) is a corruption, probably of Irish origin.

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i.

p. 167:

"In one corner was a ware-puni, occupied by Barrett and his family, and in the middle a wata, or `storehouse,' stuck upon four poles about six feet high, and only approachable by a wooden log with steps cut in it."

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 57:

"A chief would not pa.s.s under a stage or wata (a food-store)."

Ibid. p. 468:

"Wata, stand or raised platform for food: Fata, Tahaiti."

[Also an ill.u.s.tration, "an ornamental food-store," p. 377.]

1891. Rev. J. Stack, `Report of Australasian a.s.sociation for Advancement of Science,' #G. vol. iii. p. 378:

"The men gathered the food and stored it in Whatas or store- rooms, which were attached to every chief's compound, and built on tall posts protect the contents from damp and rats."

Whau, n. Maori name for the New Zealand Cork-tree, Entelea arborescens, R. Br., N.O. Tiliaceae.

Whee-Whee, n. a bird not identified.

1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.

p. 232:

"In the morning the dull monotonous double note of the whee-whee (so named from the sound of its calls), chiming in at regular intervals as the tick of a clock, warns us ... it is but half an hour to dawn."

Whekau, n. Maori name for the bird Sceloglaux albifacies, Gray, a New Zealand owl, which is there called the Laughing-Jacka.s.s.

See Jacka.s.s.

1869. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia' [Supplement]:

"Sceloglaux Albifacies, Wekau. Another of the strange inhabitants of our antipodal country, New Zealand. An owl it unquestionably is, but how widely does it differ from every other member of its family."

1885. A. Reischek, `Transactions of New Zealand Inst.i.tute,'

vol. xviii. art. xiii. p. 97:

"Athene albifacies, Laughing owl (whekau). Owls are more useful than destructive, but this species I never saw in the north or out-lying islands, and in the south it is extremely rare, and preys mostly on rats."

1885. `Transactions of the New Zealand Inst.i.tute,' vol. xviii.

p. 101:

"Already several species have disappeared from the mainland ... or are extremely rare, such as ... Laughing owl (Whekau)."

Whelk, or Native Whelk, n.

a marine mollusc, Trochocochlea constricta.

See Perriwinkle.

Whilpra, n. See quotation, and compare the Maori word Tupara (q.v.)

1880. Fison and Howitt, `Kamilaroi and k.u.mai,' p. 211:

"The term whilpra being a corruption of wheelbarrow, which the Lake Torrens natives have acquired from the whites as the name for a cart or waggon."

Whio, n. (originally Whio-Whio), alsoWio, Maori name for the New Zealand Duck, Hymenolaemus malacorhynchus, Gmell., called the Blue-Duck or Mountain Duck of New Zealand.

See Duck, Professor Parker's quotation, 1889.

The bird has a whistling note. The Maori verb, whio, means to whistle.

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 407:

"Wio (Hymenolaemus malacorhynchus), the blue duck, is found abundantly in the mountain-streams of the south part of the North Island, and in the Middle Island. It takes its name from its cry."

1877. W. Buller, `Transactions of New Zealand Inst.i.tute,'

vol. x. art. xix. p. 199:

"Captain Mair informs me that the wio is plentiful in all the mountain-streams in the Uriwera country. When marching with the native contingent in pursuit of Te Kooti, as many as forty or fifty were sometimes caught in the course of the day, some being taken by hand, or knocked over with sticks or stones, so very tame and stupid were they."

1885. H. Martin, `Transactions of New Zealand Inst.i.tute,'

vol. xviii. art. xxii. p. 113:

"Hymenolaemus malacorhynchus, Whio, Blue Duck.

Both Islands." [From a list of New Zealand birds that ought to be protected.]

Whip-bird, n. See Coach-whip.

Whip-snake, n. or Little Whip-Snake.

See under Snake.

Whip-stick, n. variety of dwarf Eucalypt; one of the Mallees; forming thick scrub.

1874. M. C., `Explorers,' p. 123:

"He had lost his way, when he would fain have crost A patch of whip-stick scrub."

Whip-tail, n. (1) A fancy name for a small Kangaroo. See Pretty-Faces, quotation.

(2) A Tasmanian fish; see under Tasmanian Whiptail.