BONES OF GIANT MOA

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1933, Page 2

BONES OF GIANT MOA

FIND IN BURIED FOREST.

RELICS OF AN OLDEN AGE

PALMERSTON NORTH, Jan. 23

Believed to be those of a moa of exceptional size, .some very large bones have been found on the Oroua Downs property of T. A. Duncan, of Huntermile. It i s considered likely that more houes will he found. The find was made by Mr G. Orr, a River Board employee, during draindigging operations some 4ft or sft, down from the bed of a creek in a mixture of mud and forest timber Three bones were recovered. A heavy lea bone, apparently of considerable age, but remarkably well preserved, was one of the. number. It weighed 71b. and was 3lin. long, the joint being intact. Another shorter Hat bone, with three large joints like those of a toe, was also excellently preserved. The third bone appeared to be from the body.

The bone s were brought into- Palmorstoii North and are being submitted to expert examination. In the opinion of local residents acquainted with the •subject they are undoubtedly the bones of a moa, of giant .size. So far as they knew, there was no record of such a (discovery in the Manawatu district before, although footprints found on the banks of the Manawatu River have been preserved.

When the authenticity of the bones is verified by the experts they should prove to be a very valuable find from the historical point of view, It is pointed out that the moa favoured sandy country such as that at Oroua Downs.