Moa's Egg Unearthed

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 238, 8 October 1936, Page 6

Moa's Egg Unearthed

UNIQUE DISCOVERY IN LIME QUARRY Per Press Association. HASTINGS, Last Night. A very rare and probably unique find of the fossilised egg of a moa was made yesterday by workmen engaged in quarrying at the lime works in the locality generally known as “The Caves.” Unfortunately the shell was fractured but hopes are entertained that it will bo pieced together. The find should be one of outstanding note and considerable interest to geologists. Tho find was made by Mr. J. L. Jorgenson, a quarryman for Lime Hydrates Ltd., who had just fired a shot of explosive to bring down a portion of the cliff face. He was engaged in picking off the protruding portions of the new face when his pick slipped through soft material. Close examination revealed that the tip of tho pick had pierced an egg shell which was about fivo inches in diameter and which was later identified as a moa’s egg. Both. Mr. A. E. Brooks, manager of tho works, and Mr. H. G. Carr, secretary, were particularly interested in the find, for it follows the discovery of a number of old trees heavily coated in lime deposits, indicating that at one time in tho far distant past there was vegetation at a considerably lower level than at present in that locality. The egg was imbedded in a large lump of rock, fossilised vegetation and limestone.

With the fossil were found the remains of small birds but tho most interesting find of all in the opinion ot Dr. A. G. Ciark was tho discovery nearby of portions of a gourd which was introduced to New Zealand by the Maoris.

“If that gourd was deposited at the locality at the same time as the Moa egg it indicates contrary to common belief that the moa was not extinct before the advent of the Maori."