A Strange Discovery

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 113, 14 March 1893, Page 4

A Strange Discovery

The Pelorus Guardian of the 28th February says that a Mr J. Rutland has made what may proye a remarkable and important discovery at Ferndale, Kenepuru. On a previous visit, when the timber was felled on this land, there was revealed a large number of oblong mounds, and last week Mr Rutland, believing he had discovered an ancient burial place, carefully examined the interior of one of these, expecting to find a human skeleton. To his surprise he found in the centre a mass of ashes with large lumps of charcoal carefully covered to a height of five feet with layers of clay. So extraordinary was the discovery that a second mound was opened with like results. A portion of the ashes was carefully taken up and has been sent to Messrs fercy Smith and Tregear for analysis to discover whether the ashes are human remains or not* If proved to be so it will establish the fact that the ancient race practiced the cremation of their dead. There is a legend that seven hundred years ago the old inhabitants of Kenepuru were driven out and sought shelter on the Chatham Islands ; possibly these remains are those of this ancient people. Should the examinations of the experts in Wellington be confirmatory of Mr Rutland's own opinion it is his intention to examine another of these mounds in a more thorough manner. Implements, such as axes, etc., have also been found at the roots of trees different altogether in pattern from those belonging to the old Maori people and giving f urthur credence to the idea that our Sounds wore formerly inhabited by a race older far than tho Maoris. We trust Mr Rutland will persevere in his worthy efforts, and that it may result in throwing more light on the somewhat obscuTe early history of our adopted home.