Huia Feathers in Cleft of Otago Rocks

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7270, 25 September 1933, Page 3

Huia Feathers in Cleft of Otago Rocks

RELICS or OLD-TIME MAORIS

As the result o£ a lucky find by a resident of Central Otago, the Otago University Museum has received into its keeping one of the most interesting relics of the days of the Maori which have yet to be discovered in Otago. Recently Mr G. Bac, of Miller’s Flat, was working over country on the east bank of the Molyneux River, when ho came across <i cleft in. the rocks.

Curiosity prompted Mr Rae, lo make a thorough examination, and to his surprise ho found hidden among the rocks a package about 3.6 inches in length. On turning it over he found that it was wrapped iu a, very iinelvwoven flax matting within,which was a wrapping of Otago tapa cloth, made of the inner bark of the hohere. Removing the wrappings he found to his astonishment a roughly-cut feather box, or wakahuia, and inside it several large bundles of huia feathers, in addition to a number of smaller bundles of scarlet kaka feathers.

In addition to the feather box, Mr Rao found the remnants of a ocautiful plaited flax kit within which was a flat slat about eight inches in length, the cutting of which had been carried out with remarkable precision by' stone tools. At the museum the box was carefully opened, and was found to contain 70 huia feathers. The feathers were badly crumpled, and some had been attacked by moths. Under skilled treatment, .however, they have resumed some of the gloss and beauty that were theirs when they were hidden more than a- century ago.