RELICS FOUND AT AN ANCIENT MAORI SETTLEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5516, 19 September 1892, Page 4

RELICS FOUND AT AN ANCIENT MAORI SETTLEMENT.

A Waitakerei settler writes to the Auokland Herald : — " On the west coast of Waitakerei, on the banks of the Anawata River, there is a large overhanging ledge of rock, ÜBed as a native dwelling place m ancient times, when the whole of this west coaßt waa densely populated. Iv the overhanging roof thero are numerous holes und crevices, and secreted m one of these I found, a few days ago, •what no doubt had once been the muchprized and beloved remembrance of a mother's lost darling ohild- From the appearance of the things found, the mother ond child must hare passed away centuries ago. A small quantity of hair from the head of a child, together with three native obsidian knivea, a small greenstone native axe, and a email fishing line neotly folded up, but this latter on being handled crumbled into dust. AU theso things had been folded up together m some kind of wrapper that on being touched instantly crumbled into duet. To me tbese relics of a by-gone age, and a people who ore passing away, ore most interesting, and, to my mind, point out that a brotherly congenial human link exists between the civilised man and the savage m tho affoction that treasured up these playthings of the beloved child. This brings up other thoughts. In the epiritlond have mother and child met ? Bo they now enjoy each other's love ? Are they m happiness ? Ihe motherly love that treasured up these things m remembrance of the lost one would seem to indicate a kindly and affectionate corner m the Maori nature."