THE M 0 A S.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1924, 6 October 1874, Page 2

THE MOA S.

As might be expected our telegram relative to the capture of two live moas, was received with a large amount of incredulity. By Saturday night's coach we have received Christchurch exchanges and from the "Press " of the 3nd instant, we take the following on the subject. Our contemporary says : — We are indebted to a valued correspondent for the following letter from a friend of his, describing the capture of two live moas. We have several times heard of moas being seen in the back country oi this Province or oi Otago, but we never expected to hear of one being actually caught. The unpretending style iti which Mr R. K. M. Smythe narrates his extraordinary achievement does him much credit. We only hope — though we shall not be at all surprised to hear the contrary — that he will be able to keep his prize secure till his arrival in Christchurch : — (< Browning's Pass, " September 26. " Dear — , — I have, as you are aware, been for the last few weeks in this locality looking for suitable country, hitherto, however, with little success. But, old man, I have found what will prove to be a regular pile to me. I have actually captured two moas alive ! The particulars of how I dropped across these hitherto supposed extinct birds, are as follows : — ' As I was returning to camp on Monday j last, and had nearly reached the top of the small saddle, my dogs, who were ahead of me, suddenly set off at a great pace over the hill, and soon after I heard them barking furiously. Thinking they had bailed up a pig, I lost no time in following them. On getting through a small patch of bush, which was on the opposite side of the spur, I was astounded, as you may easily imagine, by the sight of two immense birds, one of gigantic height, and the other much smaller, which the dogs had bailed up at the head of the gully. For a moment I thought that my eyes had deceived me, but on getting closer I found unmistakeable evidence that 1 saw before me for the first time in the Colony two veritable specimens of the moa, or as Dr Haast wuld put it, Dinornis gigantea. I cannot describe to you my feeling at this moment ; they were overpowering. However, I saw that the dogs were likely to get the worst of it, and not caring to face these two gigantic birds by myself, I ran back to the top of the saddle and cooeyed to my man, who was just behind me, to come on quickly. He soon came up with me, when I made known to him what I had seen. After a hurried consultation as to what was best to be done, we decided that we would make the attempt to capture the birds, and I despatched him to the camp for a tether rope. During his absence I watched with great anxiety the efforts made by the dogs to tackle the birds, and I need scarcely tell you that I was in a great state of mind lest they should after all give me the slip. After being away what seemed to me to be hours, my man Jim returned with the tether rope, and we proceeded to the spot where the dogs were still barking round the birds. Fortunately, just behind them was a patch of bush. Availing myself of its shelter, I managed to get up close behind the largeot one, and, to make a long story short, I roped him at the first cast, taking a turn of the rope round a birch tree. Contrary to my expectations, the giant bird did not show fight to any great extent. After this we had a little trouble in securing its legs by means of the rope, the smaller one, greatly to my clelight, - making no effort to leave its mother, Tims was accomplished the capture of the first live moa. We left the old bird securely fastened to the tree for two days, during which time we kept a careful watch to see that she did not escape. All this time the young bird kept close to the spot, seeing which we made no effort to capture it. On Thursday morning, with the assistance of Mr Frarapton's shepherds, we brought the old bird down to our camp, the young bird still following at a short distance. I reserve further particulars until j see you, but I may say that the old bird is about eight feet high, and the young one three feet shorter ; the former appears to be getting reconciled to captivity, and I have very little doubt that I shall be able to bring both safely to Christchurch. If all is well, I hope to start from here about Thursday next. "Yours, &c, " R. K. M. Smythe."