A VALUABLE FIND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1807, 21 July 1913, Page 4

A VALUABLE FIND.

I OLD MAORI VILLAGE LOCATED,

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wanganui, July 19. Two Waverlcy residents who were out shooting on tho sand hills at tho beach are reported to have made a "find" that promises to l bo tho most valuable of its kind heard of on tho coast for many years. Ono of them, it appears, noticed a small greonstono tiki in tho snnd at his feet. It was of neat design, and in an excellent state of preservation. Tho discovery encouraged further investigation. A couplo of stakes wero procured, and tho luck sportsmen began to realise that they wero actually on a goimino treasure ground. Axo handles of all shapes and sizes, bone meres, ornaments, fish-hooks, and many other curios that constituted tho stock-in-trade of tho Maori of early, days wero brought to light, togother with numerous human bodies. A l'atea press reporter subsequently gleaned information that tho remains of an old pa aro visible in. tho sand, and that several posts from which tho carving is almost worn away aro visible at intervals along tho surfaco of the sand. Tho sand at this point, it seems, has been shifting for several years, and this, aided by tho wind, has evidently caused tho exposure of what appears to bo an old Maori village. Tho discoverers intend making another trip to further prosecuto tho discovery, and ui> earth any moro treasure trovo that may Iks within digging distance. The find should certainly provo of some interest to museum authorities.