MOA BONES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 7, 8 December 1930, Page 6

MOA BONES.

EXPLORATORY PARTY’S SUCCESS. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 6. The moa bones discovered in the Poverty Bay district were examined last week by an exploratory party representing the Auckland Museum and Institute, and it is likely that the collection in the War Memorial Museum will shortly be considerably enhanced. J

The discovery of bones was reported by a local resident, and as a result a party comprising Sir Carrick Robertson, Messrs F. C. Mappin and A. T. Pycroft, members of the Council of the Museum, and Mr Gilbert Archey, director, spent over a week m the district recovering the bones already reported to have been found, and searching for others. “ConsideraTble success attended our efforts and a fair number of bones was found,” said Mr Archey. “A study of these bones will probably result in r increased knowledge of the species of Moa which inhabited the North Island.”

It is considered that the Moa was 9 n Ibe decline before New Zealand was inhabited, and that the filial extermination was made by the Maoris. It is probably 500 years since the species became extinct in the North Island, but they are believed to have lingered longer in the South Island. It is presumed from marks found on some bones that the Moa was hunted by the Maori and the marrow extracted from the bone.