STEEL MOA’S FATE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 8

STEEL MOA’S FATE

Watery Grave In Harbour

An Bft steel moa which appeared overnight in a dinghy attached to a keeler anchored off Church Bay is now at the bottom of Lyttelton Harbour.

The moa was made by an honours student of the Canterbury University School of Art, Mr J. Panting. It was exhibited in a display on the ' 'wn in front of the Canterbury Provincial Council Chambers, and bought by Mr P J. Beaven, a city architect.

The steel moa was not as mobile as its old-time prototype, and two men were needed to manhandle it into a van for transport to the architect’s home. On arrival they baulked at the flight of stone steps running up to the house and left the bird at the gate There it remained for some weeks The only recognition granted by its owner was to secure it to a tree to overcome its habit of falling across the path

Last week Mr Beaven and his family went cruising in their keeler in Lyttelton Harbour. They anchored for the night offshore near Church Bay. On waking in the morning, they found the moa had followed them the 25 miles by road and 100 yards by water from -their home. It lay in the dinghy, occupying the full length When Mr Beeven got aboard the dinghy to rescue the moa, the boat overturned and spilled it into the water where divers have so far failed to locate it.