BURIED VILLAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1937, Page 10

BURIED VILLAGE

REMAINS OF TE WAIROA PRESERVATION URGED (Special to tho "Evenino Post.") FALMERSTON N., This Day. Rotorua is noted for its many attractions and one of the most interesting is the buried village of Te Wairoa, which was destroyed when Mount Tarawera erupted in June, 1886. That appalling event happened just over 50 years ago, and during the intervening years decay has ravaged that which escaped destruction on that occasion. There will come a time, not far distant, when nothing will be left whereby one can visualise the horrors the inhabitants went through and marvel at the fact that the death roll was not heavier.

A Palmerston North citizen suggests that the time has arrived when there should be a national effort to preserve what remains of the Maori whares, houses, and the Rotomahana Hotel and to undertake further excavation work. As late as 1935 a stone pataka, in which the Maoris stored food, was unearthed. It is a unique find, especially as the face of the pataka is carved. There must be very many more such objects to be found but as things are developing at present it looks as if the whole place will soon be overrun with blackberry and ragwort.

The same observer notes that the Orakau monument near Te Awamutu has fallen and asks if there is nobody whose job it is to re-erect the column. He also regrets that the boards giving descriptive accounts of events that occurred along Hongi's track on the Rotorua-Whakatane road have suffered at the hands of irresponsibles, till now they are almost unreadable. Could not these be replaced?