The Last Moa.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Last Moa.

By CORAL SLEET FT, Ilunua, via Papakura (ago Jl).

■" Cumc on, Bob," 1 called to our faithful cattle dog our sunny morning recently. r o were to visit our old friend, Mr. Tolley, the shepherd, who lived a little beyond the fringe of the llunua Ranges. Geoffrey, my 18-year-old brother, who accompanied me, was already waiting for me to start otf. At last I was ready, and together we started our tramp. Wo called at the storo for some provisions and a coil of rope foi our friend. Our pack was a light one and once more we were on tho tiail. After a brisk walk of two miles we arrived at tiie Wairoa River, which is spanned by a tidy little bridge. Ihis wo crossed, tho llunua Ranges looming up in front of us Iho hardest part of our journey was now to commence. Bob showed his delight by giving voice to short little barks as he trundled on, keeping a little distance ahead of us. At last we stumbled on to the track that would take us to tho shepherd s hut. Wo had gono but a short distanco when Bob stopped short, with his nose in the air. " Bob has scented a wild pig, said Geoffrey. With a wild balk of excitement, Bob dashed into tho sciub alongsido tho track. The undergrowth swayed and crashed, and suddenly fiom among . the tangled fern emerged a gigantic bird. "An emu from tho zoo!" I shouted excitedly, and yet the giant bird looked bigger and more hairy than an emu. "A moa!" said Geoffrey, even more excited than myself. I could only stare, fascinated by the strange creature, which bounded into the clearing close by. 1 was carrying the coil of rope, and I felt it jerked from my grasp. Geoffrey hastily made a lassoo, while Bob was trying to catch the bird by the leg and barking excitedly. .Geoffrey threw the lassoo toward the great now only 20 paces from us. Geoffrey's aim was not true, and tho lassoo lav on the ground in a circle. The now 'thoroughly confused bird seemed not to notice us. Stepping backward, tho gigantic creature placed one huge foot within the circle of the lassoo. Geoffrey pulled on the rope, and the moa was our captive. Lashing the end of the rope to a sapling, wo set off to tell tho shepherd of our captive. Excitement seemed to lend wings to our feet, for in less time than iu takes to tell we arrived at our friend's hut. Geoffrey and I both beat together on the door

of tlie hut, making a terrible din. Immediately the door was opened wide, and there stood our old friend, who looked at us with a bewildered expression on his jovial face. "Lordv! Whatevcr's the matter? Have you seen a ghost.' ' he said. We hurriedly -told him of the moa we had captured. "A moa!—a moa!" he repeated, and laughed heartily. "The moa is extinct," he continued. Handing our friend the provisions, Geoffrey .informed him t here was at least one livo moa down in dir. clearing. " r'oino and see for yourself," said Geoff. Grabbing his haf, the shepherd set off with us to Ihe clearing, where we found our captive still secure to the sapling. " Lordy! Wljal. a monster! It must be a moa, sure enough. What arc you going lo do with it?" said he. " Wc arc going to send it to Auckland's Zoological Park." said Geoffrey, " for I'm sure it must bo the last of the lnoas."