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Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12399, 12 November 1934, Page 6

A suggested .connection between the ancient Maoris and Mexico, probably centuries before the Maoris came to Now Zealand, was mentioned by Professor. It. Speight in'a lecture on gems and precious stones at the Canterbury Museum. Among other countries in which jade was looked upon as a precious stone, Professor Speight said, was Mexico and when Cortez invaded that country the Spaniards were attracted by the many beautiful objects made of jade. It was a mystery where the Mexicans'obtained' jade; it was possible that mines existed and that the original inhabitants had disappeared and the secret of the mines had been lost. Jade was considered by the Mexicans of tho time of Cortez as really more valuable than gold. In New Zealand greenstone (nephrite) was '-used for similar purposes as those for. which the ; Mexicans used jade and.iwas looked , upon' as a precious, stone. The tikis of the Maoris had their, exact, analogy in similar little figures made in Mexico of jade. It made one wonder whether there had been any real connection between Mexico and • the Maoris.