ANCIENT CARVING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18969, 6 April 1927, Page 7

ANCIENT CARVING.

FOUND IN THE NORTH. [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, April-5. . A' large slab, of wood beariiig faint traces- has been submitted to the Auckland Museum by Mr George : Evans,' of Awa'nui.,. Interested authori-ties-.place an historic. value on it, ,as it is classed, among the few existing links between the Maori race and their remote ancestors. In this case it must be placed as pre-Maori. The piece of wood was dug up in the course of excavations that have been made in the north for the diversion of the Awanui Kiver to drain a swamp. The wood is very old, measures about 6 feet in length, 15 inches in width, and is about 2 inches thick. It must be held against .the light to see tli£ carvings. These are unlike Maori carvings, with the exception that the figures' have the characteristic three fingers. Peculiar spines protrude - from , the bodies, and at one end of the-slab is a strange figure that looks like a fish of the swordfish variety, bearing many spikes and spines. It is believed these carvings bear some resemblance to a curious piece of carving dug up in. ia, swamp at Kaitaia about'five years ago. This curio was subsequently shown to be related to markings to be found in Borneo, where similar carvings are used as ridge-poles for tombs. Whether the Kaitaia carving was actually brought from Borneo, or whether it was carved by descendants of ancient immigrants from Borneo, is matter for speculation. It is interesting, however, to recall the theory regarding the origin of the Maori advanced by Professor Spencer, of the Anthropological Department of the .Otago University, holding the view that the original inhabitants of New Zealand cam & from Borneo and South-Eastern Asia.