The Skeletons.

Manawatu Herald, 18 May 1893, Page 2

The Skeletons.

This ' find ' at the Oroua Downs is nothing very wonderful after all, and it was not on the Oroua Downs estate. It appears that the drainers are at work near the bank of the Oroua River, very nigh the site Mr Tennant had his hemp-mill. The bones are those of two adults and five children, but they have the appearance of having been on the site over thirty years. The actual spot, the site of the graves (?) is within one hundred and thirty yards of the river on a slight rise, but the bones were only about eighteen inches in the soil. One skeleton of a man bore the appearance of having been buried in a sitting position, if buried at all. In years past the opposite bank of the river was fairly peopled with Maoris, but there were few encampments on this side of the river. One very curious find amongst the bones was a bottle of Barry's Trioopherous, which plaoes the incident ot murder, or sudden death, within a prescribed number of years, We should imagine the Maoris could give some account of the incident. Our informant thinks that fire had followed or caused the deaths, by the quantity of ashes about. One skull has, though worn and decayed, still a splendid set of teeth in it, bar one. It is not thought worth while to pursue enquiries further.