THE MAORIS AND THE LIVE MOAS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4269, 25 November 1874, Page 3

THE MAORIS AND THE LIVE MOAS.

The Maoris are very sarcastic about the live moa business. The following appears in the Waka Maori : — Wellington, October 7th, 1874. My Feii'nd —Will you insert In the Waka Maori the following letter in reference to the statement of that very ambitious man, Smyth, that he had caught tW Who°n it was said ho had valiantly overpowered and secured those two huge birds- tho moa anil its young one—his fame went forth among the people, and he was called “Smyth, tho Moa-catcher We wore thoroughly startled when we heard that this famed bird, the moa, had not only been seen, but actually caught!— because tills bird has been effectually hidden by “ Tane,” and hence tho Maori proverb, Man is passing awav like the moa.” , _ ■ ~ Probably Mr. Smyth may be able to find some other of Pane's hidden treasures. I suggest that he search for the manoao tree, which is a large tree, Quite equal to the matai tree in size. Possibly Mr. Smyth may discover it in tho Middle Island, as ho seems to possess a genius for discovering the hidden things of Tane. . , . , It appears, however, by a telegram received in Wellington subsequently, that these precious birds have escaped! All the people-are much grieved at this news, for their hope of seeing in life this famed bird is disappointed ; they have only the skeleton in the Wellington Museum to look at. , We feel assured, however, that the thing is a hoax. If the birds had escaped, Smyth at least would have some of the feathers. Let him send some of the feathers to each of the Museums in New Zealand, and wo may believe him. It is not fair that the Museum at Christchurch alone should receive his favors. From the Maori People op tub East. In Maori mythology, Tunc and Tangaroa were sons of Rang! aud Papa, or the Heavens and the Earth, from the union of which man first sprung, Tho forests represent Tane, and the ocean Tangaroa ; therefore, Tane is said to have rule over the forest aud its birds and insects, aud Tangaroa over the ocean and its finny tribe, Mr. Colenso, F.L.A., iu a paper on the Botany of the North Island of New Zealand, says:—“The manoao (Lacrydinm Colensoi) is a small hard-wooded pine, incorruptible (according to the natives), found sparingly m high and dry forests on the East Coast, north of Whangarei, and also in the mountainous country near Taupo.”