THE MOA, AGAIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 281, 13 September 1867, Page 3

THE MOA, AGAIN.

(to the editor of the duxstan times.) Sir, —Knowing that anything.new concerning the Great Bird cannot fail to please a great number of your readers, I take this opportunity of detailing to yon what actually came under my own observation. In the first place I must tell you that myself «ind three mates have been snowed in for the last six weeks, having thoughtlessly camped in some region contiguous to the North Pole, in search of the precious metal, and this :is the first opportunity I have had tff transmitting the following information. On Saturday July 27th. about four o'clock in the afternoon, whilst enjoying a pipe by the side of a small fire in our hut with the door open, my attention was suddenly directed to a Uarge animal on the opposite range, I was not long in doubt as to what the-stranger was, my mates cried out, "it's the Moa" and the Moa sure it was, the bird must have been more than a mile in a straight line from us, but as the ho.rizon was clear, every movement could be de-

tected, the bird wa3 evidently going at a great pace, and 1 can only compare it to the movements of the Emu or Ostrich. We had a full view of the bird for more than two minutes, when he suddenly disappeared on the other side of the range, he was travelling to the west and 1 should think, passed close to the Nokomai. -I forward a sketch as near as •! possibly can recollect of the form, but as to the size I am not able to judge as the distance was so great, and no other objects near, to which I could compare, the morning after my mates and self took a walk up the range, where we first saw him, and there we discovered his tracks in the snow, fresh snow had fallen, and we had not a chance to continue our researches. »Of course I well know that many who read this, will place no reliance on these statements, put--ing them down on the same category with stories of the sea serpent. I was myself sceptical for a long time as to the Moa being extinct, but having seen so many pooofs on the surface of the bird's recent sojourn amongst us I remain no longer in doubt. It is immaterial to me what others may think for I am fully satisfied now that I based my belief on what has turned out true, and however this tale may go down with the public, I have done my duty in making known the facts. I enclose my name as a guarantee of good faith, not for publication, knowing well, if it were to appear in print I should be assailed from all quarters, and not wishing to carry on a paper war on the facts of a case 'of which I cannot have any possible doubt, I must for the present remain incognito. Any parties desirous of seeing the enclosed sketch, you are at perfect liberty to exhibit it. I need only add that if a party can be made up to go in search, 1 shall only be too happy to form one' of its members. I am Sir, MOA. Cromwell, Ist. Sept. 1567;[A correspondent sends us the above, our readers can form their own opinions of the mat ter, we certainly agree with the writer, that if his letter fails to instruct, it may certainly amuse.—Ed. D. T.]