STRANGE MAORI TOMB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 11

STRANGE MAORI TOMB.

A CHURCH IN MINIATURE.

STRONGROOM DOOR FITTED.

CHIEF'S LAST RESTING-PLACE

Brought into prominence by the recent purchase by the Crown of a large block of adjoining land, Poro-o-tarao, a small European and Maori settlement deep in tho heart of the King Country hills, on the Main Trunk railway, possesses one of the queerest tombs that exists in New Zealand.

The strange burying-place stands opposite the flag station, which none but the mixed trains deign to recognise, and it is the last resting-place of an old Maori chief who owned much of tho land in the vicinity, and was reputed to be very wealthy. There is little unusual about the small concrete building. It is like a church in miniature, and was erected by the old man at a cost of £250, but to ensure his protection after death, he had attached a very efficient strongroom door, specially brought from Dunedin at a cost of £75. When the tomb was completed the old Maori tried it by sleeping in it one night. Apparently it proved immune from evil spirits, for when he died shortly afterwards, he was interred in the tomb of his own building. That was 10 years ago. To-day tho cement and brick work is showing signs of depreciation, but the strongroom door, guaranteed by its English makers to be "fire resisting," and fitted with a "pow-der-proof solid lock," remains untouched by the ravages of time or weather—an incongruous spectacle.