Discovery of a Skeleton.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1467, 29 September 1885, Page 4

Discovery of a Skeleton.

The following has been going the rounds (says Wednesday's Evening Press) — " A boy uamed Harfield yester day, while taking a walk oh the hills about a mile from Nowtown,. discovered a skeleton, but whether it is that of a male.or female, Maori or- white man, has not transpired. It is surmised, however, that it will prove to be the remaius of a Maori who was slain m battle, as it is knoNvri that an old battle field exists somewhere iv the neighbourhood." Fired with enthusiasm, an Evening Press reporter hurried off to the hills, Ie endeavour to secure a grisly relic of the male or female Maori or pakeha, who died so bravely fighting for, or against his country. He was late, however, two detectives and a constable,&lso burning with zeal inspired by the above paragraph,' being already on the spot, and had provided a coffin, a four horse hoarse, aud all the other paraphernalia required to provide decent interment for the bones. But there was no funeral. Neither was there much discussion as to whether the skeleton was " male or female, Maori or white man." The most cursory glance was sufficient to show that unless the warriors engaged m that historic •• old battlefield " had four legs each, with cloven feet, and heads with horus, and,long tails, the remains could not be thus 1 ? of fightiug men. In plain language, the skeleton has now " traußpired "to be that of a bullock ! Peace to his ashes'.