PREHISTORIC NEW ZEALAND.

Colonist, Volume LIi, Issue 12804, 27 May 1910, Page 1

PREHISTORIC NEW ZEALAND.

i All Auckland paper calls attention to a large number of drains on tho west coast of the North Island, between Kaipara and Jiokianga, and says "there aro those lit the Kaipura who /irmly believe that the drams in question were the work or' man in the prehistoric period.' x • A t a recent conversazione to tlio lion. 'I. Mackenzie, these works or" industry were referred to by Mr 1 I 1 /}, 1 " I '"'*. s:t - v s tho "iNortli Auckland limes," aud so interested was tiie Minister that ho asked Mr. Harding to iurnish him with a record or ths matter. Mr. Harding acquiesced, and ho forwarded the followin.--data: — , ° "liirouguout the region on the West Coast, north or Auckland, between Kaipara and Hukiaiiga, there is evidence of its having been occupied iJi bygone days by a dense agricultural population Beyond the common remains ol the Maori pas and the vast heap ol debris and sheJls,whicli witness to the people having been, a fish and shcllfash-eating race, there are other things not so easily explained. Almost a J or the Jiigh-level swamps within the above-mentioned district have beeii systematically drained and cultivated. Xow it any, implements have been iound, and though the writer has maclo wide inquiry among the Maoris concorning these drains, ther 0 does Jiofc seem to exist anything in the way of icport or tradition. One very old Maori stated that 'tho father of tho oldest man living did aiot know who made these drams.' There are certain striking features. The drains, W thZ l°" St a i X> ahßf > ]utel y straight as though run by a thcodolytc. There is one about t Wo milos in leuytb. Tho ai v C i^o,!t nr T, Ivc]J nnd systematic auj laid out. flic nearest point has t iZ ?' ? l cc ", cllos ?' 1 fw the outfall, although this has, in some cases, necessitated cuU,»g throng], a high spur : as much as 20 to 30 feet in depth boing cut. I here are places where the trorS Jias not been completed, one special instance being a ycry ] lig ], spm . lvhjch has been cut into from both sides, but remains imlimshed. Now, it i s customary with civilised races to follow the fall of the watcfr, and not to beparticular about straight lines. This is true of the Maori to-day. The evi-ci.',:-ccs ot this :uieient indiistrv arouso in ono s mind the feeling that sonic master mind must have at some time dominated the people, and le:id them to greater enterprise.*'