LARGE GREENSTONE BLOCK FOUND

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 159, 2 April 1937, Page 10

LARGE GREENSTONE BLOCK FOUND

Discovery at Paekakariki

POSSIBLE RELIC OF TE RAUPARAHA’S RAIDS Said to be an interesting relic of tlie time when Te Rauparaha set out upon a trail of pillage and slaughter from the Waikato district to Kapiti Island, where lie finally made his headquarters, a beautiful block of greenstone was recently discovered by a Taranaki resident in a swamp at I’aekakarlki. The find has been offered to the trustees of the Wanganui Museum and it is believed that negotiations are in hand for its purchase. The block is 231 n. long and 7in. thick and is approximately’ 1001 b. in weight. It is of the lilna kawakawa variety and is very highly prized by the Maori because of its distinctive flecks. It is understood that this piece, which is at present housed in the Wanganui Museum, is the largest of its kind ever to be found in New Zealand. From the cuts on the block it is evident that a good deal of the stone was cut off before it was buried in the swamp. It is unique in that it shows a clean cut for its entire length where an outsized mere was cut off, and two other cuts for the same purpose. On tlie bottom side of the block another cut had been made to obtain a toki titaha, or adze, for cutting down trees. The cuts themselves are perfectly smooth and are indeed one of the marvels of Maori craftsmanship. Strands of flax, sand and water were used in the old method of cutting the hard stone, and often it took years before a complete cut was effected. It was a primitive and arduous job and was usually given to the old men of a tribe to do.

Though nothing beyond probability points to the reason why this valuable piece of greenstone was buried in tlie swamp, it is more than likely that when tribes in the vicinity heard of tlie awe-inspiring approach of Te Rauparaha and his pitiless warriors, they lied their settlements and hid all their tribal treasures. Few of the Maoris ever lived to retrieve their possessions and others were driven off never to have the opportunity to return. As time wore on their treasures and possessions were forgotten. There are said to be many places in New Zealand, particularly in the Wellington, Wanganui, Taranaki, East Coast and Auckland districts, where valuable Maori treasures lie buried and forgotten. They will probably never be found.