MOA SKELETONS

Southland Times, Issue 21996, 21 April 1933, Page 6

MOA SKELETONS

FOUND IN CAVE

NELSON RESIDENT’S

DISCOVERY

SEVEN ADULT BIRDS

(Per United Press Association.) Nelson, April 20.

W’hile prospecting in the Mount Arthur area, Mr G. Fawcett, of Nelson, found a number of new caves with numerous moa bones. Mr Fawcett found skeletons of seven adult birds, two chickens and several pieces of egg shell. He stated he had not explored the caves thoroughly, but anticipated there were many more bones. On the floor of the caves he could define imprints of a foot. Several people declared they have never seen bones so large as some which Mr Fawcett has in his possession. At the back of Mount Arthur, on the tablelands, there is a Miocene limestone formation at between 3000 and 4000 feet altitude. It was in this, at about 3500 feet, that Mr Fawcett discovered the caves, some of which were large, being a quarter of a mile m depth and big enough in places to build a large house in them. Five ot the 10 caves located went right through spurs in the hills, the daylight at both entrances being seen from the inside. In many parts of the caves debris has fallen from the top and covered some of the moa bones. Mr Fawcett attributes this to the effect of the 1929 earthquake.