A GRUESOME FIND

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11654, 19 October 1923, Page 4

A GRUESOME FIND

SKELETON UNEARTHED. Some time ago a skeleton of a man was found on the right bank of the Rangitikoi river, below the site of the old ferry, and not far from Mr J. Gaisford’s boatshed (says a correspondent of the “Rangitikei Advocate”). It was not very far from the river bank, possibly a hundred yards or so. and had evidently been uncovered by tho wind blowing the sand away. From the condition of tho teeth, nearly all of which were sound, the skeleton is supposed to be that of a Maori, and must have been there many years. Visitors who come across the remains do not fail to rake the sand over in the hope that the old chief’s ornaments were buried with him; but not a sign lias so far been brought to light that the dead man ever wore slabs of greenstone. A visitor recently made a hole in the sand and reverently interred the bones, and marked the opot by erecting a rudo cross, which was a mistake if the grave-digger’s object was to keep the bones out of sight, because other explorers are sure to come along ami disturb the tomb expecting to find untold wealth.