DISCOVERY IN KAITAIA SWAMP.

Northland Age, Volume 21, Issue 16, 31 July 1922, Page 7

DISCOVERY IN KAITAIA SWAMP.

♦ The whole of the Far North is instinct with Maori tradition and lore. The population here, in the olden days, must hare been dense, as indicated by the large numbers of pahs scattered aljl over the country-side. The traces of what were evidently cultivation drains on Mr. Walter Masters’ property would seem to show that at one time settlement must have been very close in this particular partThese drains are particularly well defined' even now, are on practically parallel lines, and about equidistant from each other. Without pursuing this phase further it may almost safely be taken that these drains do indicate signs of cultivation, at some fairly remote time. The problem of the Kaitaia Swamp is an interesting one. There is every indication that at some time long anterior to white settlement (probably long before the Maori came here) this ground, now swamp, was hard, and probably comparatively high ground. This is indicated by the remains of heavy forest, indicating great age. A short distance away from the drains already spoken of there are remains of a kauri forest in which the trees were of enormous size. And this on ground which within the memory of the oldest, and from tradition, has been swamp for a long, long time. The natural hypothesis is that what is now the Kaitaia Swamp was, hundreds, or perhaps thousands of years ago firm land, as shown by the forest remains. At some time in the past either this land sank, or the water outlets were blocked, turning the previously firm land into swamp. A judgement on this subject, to be in any way authorative, would need to come from a geologist. Some time ago there was discovered in the Kaitaia Swamp a pieceof carved wood, which, in the opinions of experts, was the lintel of an old building. All kinds of theories have been put forward in connection with this piece of timber. The carving was of quite a different class and character from that on Maori buildings, as far back as these have been traced. After the discovery of this lintel came the light thrown on the drains on Mr. Masters’ property.

Recently Mr. Walter Masters made another discovery on his farm, nearer the lake. On ground which has been swamp during the whole memory of white settlers were discovered, imbedded in the earth, the butts of certain posts and planks which had apparently been the uprights of buildings. What apparently had happened was that the upper portions of these uprights had decayed, whilst the. portions imbedded had been preserved. When the drainage operations unwatered this ground there was a deposit of peaty matter on the surface. This peat has been burned off, and disclosed the butts of the uprights. At the point of the discovery nearest the lake were three round post butts, two to three feet in length, in a straight line, and equidistant, the distance between the two outside posts being about 26 feet. Six feet outside the centre post, at right angles to it was another post of similar size, whilst there were the burnt-off remains of another at the same distance outside one of the end posts. These posts are all pointed, some sharply, others bluffly. A few yards away from the posts above described were two posts, 26 feet apart, and at right angles to the round posts. These posts were really roughly dressed planks about 14 inches wide, and over two inches in thickness. The flat side of each faced the flat side of the other. They also were pointed. The pointing cuts had not met, the timber being broken off, leaving a bluff end. The axe work on the dressing and pointing of these posts and planks does not bear the long and clean appearance of cuts by a metal axe—the cuts are short and with a certain amount of concavity. In what would apparently have been the centre of the buildings included in the confines of these posts or planks were stones which might conceivably have been fire-placis. Within a few yards of these remains is what is the only raised portion of the swamp in this vicinity. Prior to the fire which burned off the peat, this raised poilion was much greater in height and area. There was a deep moat or fosse right round it. This would seem to indicate that this was an artificial elevation. This, of course, could easily be found out by making a cut right through it.

The timber of the posts and planks is evidently what is known as' manawau, which has extraordinary lasting qualities. There are stumps of trees right alongside the posts, which would seem to indicate that a forest had grown up since the posts were put in. The “Age” representative, who visited the site with Messrs. Walter Masters, T. S. Houston, and W. A. N. Campbell, makes no pretension to any special knowledge of Maori antiquities. He has merely stated what he saw, and leaves the surmises and hypotheses to those interested and learned in these matters. Taken in conjunction with other discoveries on the swamp, and the fact that there was once a great Maori population in this locality, it is quite conceive l ,ble that interesting discoveries will be made in the district. The matter is commended to Professor Worley and others who have displayed a keen interest in previous discoveries in the Swamp.