Discovery of Moa Bones.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 237, 11 December 1896, Page 3

Discovery of Moa Bones.

Mr E. Maxwell, of Opua, writes : Mr Berry and myself made a discovery of interest on Saturday last whilst hunting for curios near the beach between Opunake and Opua. We came on a few bones, which, on our return home, we ascertained to be moa bones. We returned and made a careful search, collecting a good number of the moa bones and a very large number belonging to some small parrot-like bird, as well as others not identified. The place where the discovery was made has evidently been an old feeding ground of the Opua Maoris in times gone by, probably at least 120 to 150 years ago. Whilst quite new the place was evidently covered with sand, raised to hills, and so remained hidden till some time within the last few months, when the wind broke into the sandhill, drifting it away till the original level of soil was laid bare, exposing the old Maori kopas or cocking places and the remains of their feasts. The discovery is one of interest. Some of the bones are in a good state of preservation —legs, backbones, and toes. This is the only find I know of in Taranaki north of the Waingongoro Eiver, where bones were found about half a century ago by the Eev. Mr Taylor, and later by him accompanied by Sir George Grey.