toe-toe

and Toi-toi

Maori name of severalspecies of native grass of the genus Arundo, especially Arundo conspicua, A. Cunn. Toe-toe is the rightspelling in Maori, given in Williams' `Maori Dictionary.' InEnglish, however, the word is frequently spelt toi-toi.It is also called Prince of Wales' feather.

1843. `An Ordinance for imposing a tax on Raupo Houses,Session II. No. xvii. of the former Legislative Council ofNew Zealand':

[From A. Domett's collection of Ordinances, 1850.]

«Section 2. . . . there shall be levied in respect of everybuilding constructed wholly or in part of raupo, nikau,toitoi, wiwi kakaho, straw or thatch of anydescription [ . . . L20].»

1849. C. Hursthouse, `Settlement of New Plymouth,' p. 13:

«A species of tall grass called `toetoe.'»

1861. C. C. Bowen, `Poems,' p. 57:

«High o'er them all the toi waved,

To grace that savage ground.»

1867. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 110:

«Thatching it with tohi, or swamp-grass.»

1892. `The Katipo,' Jan. i. [sic] p. 3 [description of theTitle-cut]:

«The toi toi and Phorinium tenax in the corners are New Zealand emblems.»

1895. `Otago Witness,' Dec. 19, p. 6, col. 3:

«Where Christmas lilies wave and blow,

Where the fan-tails tumbling glance,

And plumed toi-toi heads the dance.»