BURIAL CAVES INVADED.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19804, 17 December 1929, Page 12

BURIAL CAVES INVADED.

DESECRATION IN NORTH AUCKLAND. INDIGNATION AMONG MAORIS. [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, December 16. For centuries the secret of the ancestral burial caves of the Parawhau tribe has been jealously kept among the elders of the people and the location was not divulged to a single white man. To-day the Natives were incensed upon learjiing that the sacred caves had been desecrated by, it is thought, European treasure seekers, says a message from Whangarei. When Mr Lou Parore, one of the guardians, visited the spot yesterda.v to investigate a rumour tliat a robbery had taken place lie discovered that it was onlv too well founded. There are a number of caves in the Native reserve not far from Whangarei. Mr Parore found to his horror that the seal of the main cave had. been broken and that the sanctuary had been invaded and desecrated. The intrusion must have taken place recently for the tracks were quite fresh, most incriminating, and to Mr Parore the most horrifying fact of all was that several skulls had been taken outside the cave and left at the entrance. It could at least have been expected that the relics would have been replaced. Further rifling may have occurred, but the extent is not ascertainable at present. Only a few of the tribe know what has happened. They are very annoyed and consider the action of the ghouls most uncivilised and unchristian. ;I wonder how the pakehas would feel if Maoris ?ntered their cemeteries and removed the remains of their dead.'' said one of the chiefs. Full investigations are l»eing made and a prosecution is likely to he launched. It is considered that there must have been a leakage of information from a privileged member of the Parawhau tribe and a tribal gathering will be held to discuss that aspect of the affair. In the meantime the Maoris wish to warn curio-«eekers and bone collectors of the dancer they are courting. Such people are 'strongly advised not to approach any of- the burial caves in the district.