AN INTERESTING RELIC.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 18, 12 July 1900, Page 3

AN INTER ESTING RELIC.

For every description of jobprinting antl book-bindtog, go to the Advertiser office.

For children's hacking coughs at night, "Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. —1b 6d.

It having been reported that a tombstone, dating back as far as the year 1774, had been discovered near Little River, a representative of the Lyfctelton Times on Tuesday paid a visit to the locality, where, apparently, a European had been buried over a hundred years ago. A short search wan made, and soon a headstone was discovered. It was facing due east, and bore the inscription :—: — Sacred to The Memory of B. Townsend. Died A.D. 1774. The stone, which was embedded more than a foot deep in the ground, is about two feet six inches high and about two feet two inches across, the top being sloped off on each side. The atone is soft grey slate, and the letters have been cut with a sharp instrument. Up to a short time ago the existence of the inscription was unknown, for, although Mr Parkinson discovered the stone about twenty years ago, it was not until last week that curiosity impelled him to thoroughly examine it. The stone was covered with moss, and when that had been removed the inscription was revealed. The peculiar character of the stone led to a search for other relics, but it was .without results, although one of the party dug deep down into the ground. A mile away some stone of the same nature as the one discovered was seen, and it was evident that the headstone had been carried a considerable distance. About a foot below the Burface whore the stone had been placed, the discolouration of the earth seemed to indicate that a body had been buried there. The oldest inhabitants in the vicinity can throw no light on the subject. It may be mentioned, however, as possibly having something to do with the mystery, that Captain Cook* visited the South Island of Now Zealand in 1770, and perhaps the stone was placed in the ■ position in which it was found in order to indicate the last resting-place of one of the nivigator's party. It is possible that he may left, his comrades to throw hi his lot with the Maoris, or may have wandered away from his ship with some ! other object in view, but, of course, the inscription on the stono could have been cut by only a European, and the man who lies buried there must have had companions.