DISCOVERY OF MOA REMAINS AT ONEWHERO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11800, 1 November 1901, Page 5

DISCOVERY OF MOA REMAINS AT ONEWHERO.

A KARA avis, in tho shape of some of the remains of the long-extinct- moa bird, was lately found by Messrs. Sheldon Bros., who were felling bush on Mr. C. J. Lindberg's property at Onewhero. These remains consist of two of the leg bones, and have a look of ponderous dimensions, both being apparently from the samo member, and appear to bo portions of a larger bird than the skeleton of the moa to bo seen in the Auckland Museum. The larger bone measures 2ffc lOin long, girthing 9iu in circumference at the smallest part, and 19in at the largest part around the joint. The smaller bone is 18in long, girths 9in at the smallest part, and 18in around the joint. The remains, though darkened with the exposure of over -a century's sun and rain, are still well preserved. Notwithstanding the long period which must have elapsed since they belonged to a living animal, the bones, though dry, have still considerable weight, the larger bone being 61b, and the smaller one 31b in weight. These portions of the moa were discovered in the bed of a stream among limestone, and a slip had apparently hidden the other portions of the skeleton. As the buslvfellers were more intent on their work than the unearthing of strange large bones, only a scanty search was made to find what would probably have made a complete skeleton. No doubt when the felled bush, which now covers the spot, is burned, a more rigorous search will be made. The spot where the bones were found is in the midst of a. dense forest, many miles in extent. No discoveries of the kind have ever been made in these parts before, and the oldest Maoris have but a hazy knowledge of these large birds which once inhabited these islands. When the bones lately found were shown to some _ Maoris, they" soon came to the conclusion that tiiey belonged to the moa, though the natives did not seem to have as much information regarding the bird as the ordinary .European. The moa docs not appear to have been so plentiful in the north of New Zealand as in some of tho southern parts. Indeed, north of Auckland it seems to have been almost a stranger, and tho natives north of Auckland have hardly any tradition regarding it like what the Maoris south of Auckland possess. Few authentic remains of tho moa have been found north of Auckland. But in the peaty plains of Canterbury bones of the moa have been found m considerable numbers. In the Nelson oistricfc several fossilised mo& skeletons ha»e been found, more particularly in the limestone caves which abound there, and which contain whole petrified skeletons. —[Onewheni Correspondent.]