STRANGE MAORI TOMB

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1930, Page 17

STRANGE MAORI TOMB

One of the queerest tombs in Ifew Zealand has been brought into prominence by the recent purchase by:the Crown of land at Poro-o-tafao, a small European and Maori.'settlement in the heart o£ the King i Country) sa^an, exchange. , „' ; The burying $lace stands opposite the ■ (lag station,.>y)ii"li none but mixed trains deign to recognise^ arid it is the last resting-place"' of an old' Maori chicf > who owned much of the land in the vicinity, and was reputed to be,very wealthy. There : is little unusual about the sraull concrete ! building. It is. like, a church in mmia- ' ture,iaiid was erected-by the old man at ■ ii cost of £26O;but to ensure his proteo- : tion after death, :he had it fitted with a : voi-y ellieient strong-room door, specially brought from Dunedin tit a cost of £75. When the tomb was completed tho_ old 3Jaori tried it by sleeping iv it one night. Apparently • itl proved immilnu from evil Kpirits. for when lie (lied shortly afterwards ho was interred in the tomb of Ins own building. That was ten years ago. To-dn,v the cement and brick work is showing signs of depreciation, but the strong-room door, guaranteed by ita English makers to be "fire resisting," and fitted with a "powder-proof solid lock," remains untouched by the ravages of time or weather —an incongruous spectacle.