IMPRUDENT SEIZURE OF A MAORI IMAGE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3110, 21 March 1883, Page 2

IMPRUDENT SEIZURE OF A MAORI IMAGE.

The following intelligence comes from Ohinemutu to the “ Taranaki Herald ” A seizure was made at Lake House Hotel premises yesterday, under a search warrant, of the celebrated stone image “ Matua-atonga,” which is said to have been brought by one of the Maoris in one of the original canoes, to Maketu from Huraki, and afterwards brought by Tukorangi to the Island of Mokaro, and buried there. Sir George Grey is said to have been the only European who ever saw the image until it was discovered on the 14th by employees of Mr Graham, who on the evening of the 15th brought it over to the Lake House. The figure represents a human being squatting on the haunches with the knees drawn up to the body. The fore-arms are flat against the chest, and the hands are extended upwards, with the palms against the body, and fingers resting under the chin. The height of the figure is about 4ft. Bin, and the greatest girth is over 7ft. It weighs more than a ton. There is great excitement, both among the Maoris and Europeans, the former because they look upon the disinterment as a gross outrage against their most sacred relic, and the latter because the action of Mr Graham jeopardises the relations between themselves and the natives here. As the news of the outrage spreads amongst the Hapus, the excitement is likely to increase.