ON THE MOA BONES FOUND AT HERRINGTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 279, 26 July 1889, Page 2

ON THE MOA BONES FOUND AT HERRINGTON.

Conld these bleached boneß to us reveal Their life's past history, An«J tell u^o( those timep, that aeero , Shroadea in tnystery. ' ' The tale more interesting would prove Than any wild romance Of •« Ryder Haggard " type—and wfculd; Our knowledge much enhance Of pre-historic days, in which Through old New Zealand's glades, Thy kindred, and thy neighbors too Gigantic Moa t strayed. • For this we know — that ages long Have passed away, since ye Poor bones I were clothed with flesh and skin And roamed the forest free. Strange forms of life were all around; And on the waters calm Of deep lagoons— that monstrous bird The Gnemiornls swam. And man was there — but not the t»oe Of Maorieß, whom we see ; But woolly-haired, and savage men, Now passed away, like thee. Perchance by one of these vat ained At thee, a fatal dirt ; And thou didst form * villaga f eaft In which all had a part. And then thy bones, clean picked and kai» Were thrown upon the ground, Where, covered by th» drifting s«ad , ' They've lain, until now found. And curiously we handle them, At their great size Aghast ; Then gently lay them 'down again, HtrMgsV reliea of the past !