Round Houses.

Jeffrey Henry was informed by a Missionary at Aitutaki that the dwelling houses in existence when they took up work had rounded ends and the roof came to a point. The Missionaries introduced the rectangular house, but in deference to native architecture, made hip roofs with a very short ridge. The roofs of the old mission houses and churches are of this type. Henry further stated that the boundaries of the four districts of Vaipae, Arutanga, Vaiorea and Matatane all converge on one boundary stone named Tahuhu-o-te-rangi, the Ridge of the Sky. He mentioned that the use of the word tahuhu (ridge) for a single point in an old place name confirmed the Missionary's contention that the roofs were pointed in olden times. This information was obtained in Raratonga whilst returning to New Zealand, and there was no opportunity of confirming the statement.

In this connection, it is of interest to note that Aitutaki was over-run by a numerous people known as Aitu in the time of Maewa-i-te-rangi. Though subsequently defeated by Maewa's grandson Marouna, the Aitu were never exterminated, but became merged in the population. The Aitu are held to have come from the region of Samoa, and may have introduced some culture elements into the craft of house-building.