MAORI CANOE FOUND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20630, 11 August 1941, Page 4

MAORI CANOE FOUND

EROSION BY WAIPAOA MURIWAI BEACH'CHANGES Considerable interest has been aroused in the Muriwai district by the discovery at the mouth of the Waipaoa River of a large partly-com-pleted Maori canoe. Swollen by the recent heavy rains, the Waipaoa has continued the erosion of its southern bank. Estimated at some 40ft. in length and 6ft. wide, the canoe lies at an angle on the southern bank having been uncovered by the washing away of the bank in this region. Adze or axe marks on the inside, which has been practically completed, date the canoe as having been made since the coming of the white man. .Most of the outside of the craft has had a considerable amount of work devoted to its construction. The stem has not been completed, the butt end of the large totara log still showing its shape. The canoe is uncovered at low tide and already a large number of people has inspected the discovery with interest. Above and below this ’ point the erosion of this bank has been continued. Some months ago the residence of the late Mr. August Zenker was removed because of the encroachment of the river. To-day the whole front portion of the adjacent paddock has disappeared, while the river has now entered what was the house paddock. Many trdes have been felled in this particuar locality to avoid their being washed away. Many changes have taken place in the foreshore of the Muriwai Beach since the big flood of 1938, but the changes of the last few months have been most rapid. Erosion is taking place along the whole of the western end of the beach and it now seems likely that the river at any time will enter the lagoon as only a narrow strip of land is nov; separating the two.