DISCOVERY OF MOA BONES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1237, 17 July 1872, Page 2

DISCOVERY OF MOA BONES.

An extensive, and most important discovery of moa bones has-been made on the Glenmark run, in, the Waipara district, Canterbury. Remains of the moa tribe had previously been found in the same locality, and, by the kind permission of Mr G. H. Moore, Dr Haas 4 : caused excavations to be made in the turbary deposits, at a particular spot, with a view to ascertaining if more of these valuable scientific relics did not exist. The result has been a conspicuous success ; indeed, it is scarcely possible to over-estimate Jthe importance of the discoveries that have been made. The quantity of i bones brought to light is remarkably great and varied. Not only will several complete skeletons of species of the Dinornis— only portions of which have hitherto been in existence— be added, to the museum, making our hitherto unrivalled collection of moa remains.still more complete"; but several new and interesting species will also be obtained. Besides supplying the museum, there will be ample materials for exchanges with other parts of the World. Thusthe discoveries will prove a source of wealth, reaching even beyond the power of money,forit is not toomuchto say, that a complete skeleton of a moa will procure that in exchange which gold would not purchase. In addition to the moa bones, remains of several other representatives of our extinct avifauna, which will throw great light upon the animal life in this island, in times preceding our own era were also discovered during the excavations, The first por.

tion of " the great find " was brought to town in a four-horse American waggon. There was no less than twenty-four large cases, and it is, therefore, ntinpceasa./ to say that the waggon v, m not too large for its freight. A further consignment ?s expected to^ follow immediately, and the araying will be continued unt' l the supply of bones is exhausted. The Mustum ako received six large cases containing a fine collection of. samian bones, which have been procured from the bed of the river Waipara, where Dr Hwst has had an efficient collector employed for two months past. The collection includes some very large blocks weighing severrl hundredweights, with nearly complete skeletons.