ANCIENT HISTORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 20 March 1909, Page 3

ANCIENT HISTORY.

BURIAL GF A MAORI IN ALL SAINTS’ CHURCHYARD,

The following letter appears in the minute - book of All Saints’ vestry re the above : There has been some doubt as to the actual facts of this matter. It was thought by some that the bones of the native had been removed and interred elsewhere. I therefore gladly accepted the offer of Mr George Nye to ascertain from the natives the truth. Mr Nye has resided in this neighbour hood for upwards of sixty years past, he has been, and still is, intimately acquainted with the Maoris of this part. Mr Nye has lately given me the result of his enquiries. He consulted three (or more) of the oldest natives of the district, who have lived here for many years and were here at the time of the burial in question. They all agreed in one account of it. The younger of a chief was buried in what is now the churchyard. His bones were actually interred and now lie in the space surrounded by a wooden fence. Afterwards the body of a young child was placed in the same spot, both of these persons are Christians, The bones were not removed and still remain thereAfter the burial, Captain Francis Robinson, of Herrington, bought the section from the Maoris on two conditions: (1) That the land should be used tor. the building of a church ; (2) That the site of the grave should always be respected. Captain Robinson then presented the laud to the church, and All Saints’ Church was built upon the site.—Herbert Wilson, vicar. Foxton, November 5, 1902.