MAORI MASONRY.
Mr F: A. Christian, 8.A., delivered, before the Wellington Philosophical Society, on Wednesday night, his lecture on the remarkable masonry remains found in Western Polynesia, reference to which was made in cable messages some months ago. In the discussion which followed, Mr Harding remarked that it was strange that so little, if any, ancient stone work had been found in New Zealand, when it was so abundant elsewhere in the Pacific. He mentioned an extraordinary stone rampart seen by Mr Colenso many years ago when crossing the Euahine, on the summit of that range. Though it might have been a natural feature, it was so suggestive of hulnan handiwork that Mr Colenso regretted that heavy snow and failing provisions compelled him to hurry past without giving it careful examination. Sir James Hector said that stone fortifications were not wholly unknown, to the Maoris, and he described a remarkable example in Taranaki. Other ancient works of the kind doubtless existed in New Zealand, buried like those already described in forest growth. It was stated that Mr Christian intended to follow up his researches, the Pelew Islands being his next destination.
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Star (Christchurch), Issue 5960, 27 August 1897, Page 4
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191MAORI MASONRY. Star (Christchurch), Issue 5960, 27 August 1897, Page 4
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