“THE LOST TRIBE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1927, Page 4

“THE LOST TRIBE.”

WEST COAST MYSTERY

CHRISTCHURCH, June 9. AATiilo on his botanic expedition to tho AA'est Coast and Nelson, an account of which lie gave to members of the Philosophical Institute last evening, Professor A. Wall interested himself in the reputed existence in tlAlaruia country of a. strange people known, through a fixed but unaccountable tradition, as “The Lost Tribe.” Professor AVa 11 confessed that m common with many who have investigated the reports about these people, ho had been unable to locate them or to secure any accurate account of their history.

•‘Much has been said about them, and what we have heard would load to the belief that these people must have been ‘hard cases,’ ” remarked the Professor, He was told that a good many years ago a certain number <: families went to the district and became isolated.

“The theories of the cause of this isolation vary,” said the Professor. “One is that the roads leading to their habitation became blocked, and that all communication with the outsit: world was cut off. Another is that the families did not bother to break their isolation. Many queer tales are tohl and they are not fit for publication.”

The Professor said the subject was one of historical interest and north investigation. He had obtained the addresses of people who were supposed to be acquainted with the subject and the historical students of Canterbury College were going to enquire.