TWO RARE FINDS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4406, 26 April 1922, Page 2

TWO RARE FINDS.

IN SEWERAGE EXCAVATION. MAORI PIGEON CANOE. AND THERMAL SPRING. % While excavating the large drain for the Paeroa' Borought sewerage system the workmen came across a rare relic of Maori forest-.craft, in the form of what is known as a “pigeon canoe,” the locality of the find being at the back of Mr Harris’ jeweller’s shop, and at a depth of eleven feet. The canoe is roughly shaped out of wood, and measures 28 inches in length, 7 inches abeam, and three in depth. It -is rough, but fairly well preserved, and was lying among the remains of leaves, the place, presumably, having been a watercourse in ages past. This curious craft was used by '"'he Maoris in order to trap pigeons. The canoe was filled l with water, and placed in the tawa tree when the berries were ripe and had a snare attached to it. Eating the tawa berries induces thirst, and the pigeons would readily come to drinlc out of the canoe of water pl.aced so conveniently for their undoing, and be caught in the cunningly set snare. The foreman, Mr Rusden. intends to present the canoe to the Paeroa District. High School museum. HOT WATER SPRING. Tn the same locality a hot-water spring was come in contact withi