A MAORI RELIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8814, 1 March 1892, Page 5

A MAORI RELIC.

A few days ago an olden Maori relic was found by Mr. 10. S. Brookes, J.P., in a trench round one of the highest pas on the Warehine Peninsula. This is a mire of greystone, Di inches long, Hj; in the widest part, l.t in the thickest portion of it. Looking on one side of the mere, it is beautifully finished, tho edge all round being still perfect. There is a drilled hole near the bottom of the handle, through which the cord attached it to the wrist of the warrior, and the bottom is slightly ornamented. The other side is somewhat battered, as it must have seen some hard fighting, fur there are '27 chips out of it, disclosing that the warriors always managed to receive the blows on one side of their mere. This is the same with another mere, or portion, found in tho same districtthe blows are received all on one side. Thi.-. shows the treat defect of many of the meres that are now represented as belonging to celebrated arriors. These are most beautiful and perfect, almost precluding to a certainty their having ever been used in battle, or so old as represented. This olden mere was found buried two inches at the bottom of the trench, and the last blow it received points to the end of the fingers of tho warrior having been cut off, when it would drop from his grasp, when lie would close with his adversary. Then, in the struggle, the mere would become detached, and soon covered over. Most likely all these blows seen on the mere were not given in the last engagement, but may be the records of different tights. However, the time that has elapsed since this last tight took placo, judging from the puriris and karakas now growing on tho spot, must be at least between 80 or 90 years ago.—[Own Correspondent. J