A LOST MAORI TRIBE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2147, 12 January 1881, Page 3

A LOST MAORI TRIBE.

The following very interesting facte cinciirning the burial place of the Maoris (the Cave) have been communicated to us (" Grey Rivet Argus") by Mr Mutu, the son-in-law of the late chief, Tainui. The Oavo was a burial place of the original tribe of Maori* who inhabited the West Coast before it wae taken possession of by Tainui's tribe. When it was resolved that the Gave should be the burial place, bones and other remains were found in it, which were cleared out. The first body deposited in it was that of Tuhuru, the father of Tarapuhi and Tainui, in 1854 ; then was buried Nihorere, daughter of Tuhuru; Tarapuhi, the fighting chief of the tribe, end son of Tuhuru and brother of Tainui j Meri Tarapuhi, Tini Tewaihuka, Heroni, Meri, Thirkaihua, daughters, and Werotah Tarapuhi, son of Tarapuhi; Hoani Hautaha Tainui, Tamati Tainui, eon of lahin Tainui j three other relatives, and lastly, tho old chiof Waretah Tainui. There is still believed to be some of the old Maori tribe living in the southern partu of the West Coast, and not long since a female was captured with finger nails like olawa, tome inches in length, but in consequence of the appearance of a number of males of the tribe her captors were compelled to let her go. The Hon. Mr Taiaroa, M.L.0., who ia regarded as the head of the all but lost tribe, has several times desired to send out a party of Natives to ascertain the retreat of the tribe, but it has been considered up to the present time that it would be almost useless, as the tribe is no doubt concealed in fastnesues unknown to either Europeans or Maoris,,