THE PASSING OF A TUATARA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2153, 22 July 1920, Page 2

THE PASSING OF A TUATARA.

AND A. STUDENT’S LAMENT

■Professor Benham, Aecturipg at the Otago Institute on the subject of "The History of the Tuatara, ?' had in him, for occasional illustration, a stuffed tuatara. For a while the hearers wondered why the lecturer was not using the living tuatara that children delighted to during their visits to the Museum. The explanation’ given in due time was that the reptilian pet had turned up its toes. Asking about this after the lecture, a reporter learned that the death occurred two months ago, or thereabouts. The tuatara was taken to the Woodhaugh Gardens and set to. crawl about on the ground for the sake of making a kinema picture, and it was after that performance that it sickened and went out. Mr W. Goodlet, the caretaker, who used to fondle the tuatara, and show it off for the pleasure of visitors, is.’ of opinion that it caught a chill during the outing. In connection''With the above, a Foxton student (J.S.H.) immorftilises in verse the passing of the two-century-old reptile, which we (dip from the last: issue of the University Review:; — THE PASSING OF JEANNIE. y (Being the true story of the death of the Tuatara at the Museum.) Now the gardens known as .Woodhaugh Saw the passing of the Moa; Saw the lizard pass —our Jeauuie — Also culled the Tuatara. And it came to pass in this way: Listen, students,* happened Uhuswise:— On a cold and frosty morning. In the chilly days of Maytime, Came a stranger from the movies, Came with camera from the Northland To produce for generations Yet unborn a moving picture. Called he students then, to help him; All together went to Skinner (Who was minding Maori relics the musty Hocken Library). Said they to the ethnologia-% “Give us of thy meres, tikis, Of thy tiahas and feathers, Also Jcannie and the Moa.” So he gave them of the tikis, Of the tiahas and meres, But on Jeauuie he’d no mana — She and Moa came from Goodlet. Then with faces tattooed,, darkened, Came they to the Woodhaugh Gardens, Where the movie-camera whirring Photographed our lizard moving Backwards, forwards, ’midst the toi-toi, On this cold and frosty morning; Photographed the dusky Natives As they prancing, hakad, chanted, Also snapped the Moa hunted Till at last they caught aud slew it. Then the movie-man departed, And the men of war went with him; Washed they paint; from off their faces, Took they-back in triumph Lizzie, Moa, tiaha, and mere. They returned unto their diggings, Feasted they with mirth and laughter, And soon re-attacked their swathooks. But our lizard, ckenumed Jeauuie, Fed hy tender hands of Goodlet, Ale no blow-fly on the morrow. 'She foil sick of foul pneumonia, Also died, A\;as resurrected .By the skilful taxidermist. In a case of glass protected, She still looks upon the children, But she answers not to Goodlet. So it was she gave her young life, Suffered martyrdom for Science. Will the students e’er forget her \Vho dwells peaceful with the Moa 1 ? They will make a dedication — On a copper-plate inscribe it, How she lived and died and suffered For the future" generations.