WAS IT A MOA?

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 675, 14 October 1921, Page 6

WAS IT A MOA?

THE HAfyGATFQSSSLS. SOME INTRESTING FACTS. Press investigations confirms the report that fossilised bones and an unusal footprint have been discovered embedded in the limestone at the Hangatiki Lime Company’s works. The bones were readily recognised as those of the now extinct moa, and from the fact that on various occasions other traces of the huge bird have been found in different parts of the district it is almost certain that many years ago the King Country was a popular haunt of New Zealand’s mammoth bird, Quite a number of (the bones are in an excellent state of crystallised preservation bu they are considered insufficient to be of any recongtructional value. The mos<t imposing fossil is that of three joints of the vertebrae, the size of which indicates that the moa must have been an enormous one, The three joints in their crystallised state weigh considerably over 201 b. Some of the smaller bones have crysjtalised to the semblance of quartz, whilst others of a cancellous nature crumbled on being taken from the surrounding stone. Beneath the fossilised breast bone a number of round, smooth pebbles were 'found, and as jthey are unlike any other stone near the quarry, it is considered that these are crop stones, which must have been picked up by the mo|a at some distance from the scene of its death,

The origin of the footprint is still a matter for speculation. The impression of the thumb-like side toe, and the proximity of the moa bones suggest a relationship between ithe two, but the balance of the imprint has not the slightest resemblance (to the threetoed shape of the moa’s foot. The body of the impression rather resembles ( the shape of a very large human foot with long toes, but the fact that the stone bearing the imprint of the heel was not recovered leaves some doubt as to the length of the foot. The line at the time the impression was made was of such excellent moulding |texture that the idea of sides of the foot about the instep are clearly reproduced, and the width, of the mould ’is between six and seven inches at the narrowest part. It is certainly an exceptional foot that would give an impression well over 1 foot in length and over 6 inches in width, • As the imprint is being forwarded to the Government biologist it is highly probable that identification will not be long delayed.

In showing ,the press representative over the quarry and works, the foreman drew attention to a unique well-hole, which, had been sunk for the installation of a weigh-bridge. In this excavation water rises and falls every day with tidal effect, “and strange to say,” remarked the foreman,’ “the water has risen half an hour later each day for some days past.” At present no solutioni s offered for this strange occurence.— King Country Chronicle.