THE "PREHISTORIC" IN NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 38, 25 May 1910, Page 2

THE "PREHISTORIC" IN NEW ZEALAND.

To the Editor. Sir, Though until quite lately nothing whatever decided in the nature of more ancient remains than those of the Maoris or some similar savage tribes seems to have turned up in New Zealand—indeed, the existence of such relics is being almost denied —yet I have ever considered it was more than likely that such antiquities might eventually 'be discovered in New Zealand. Considering that in Australia, and in almost all the islands of Polynesia monoliths and monuments of greav'age occur, it would seem odd that New Zealand should he the only exception. The most curiously inscribed and ingrained rocks ami embossed configurations on some of the boulders forming the Kaimiro moraine, distributed apparently from Mount Egmont, noticed by myself, may be nothing more than the result of glacial icegrindlng technically, "striated glaciation"—e!"«cted scarcely less than one hundred thousand' years ago, or volcanic fusion, or the erosion of elements. Still, 1 had almost begun to pride or flatter myself on being the first person to discover an approach to prehistoric relics in New Zealand, when I observed an account of some fossil skull extremely old having ibeen exhumed at Whangarei. Then Mr. Clement VYragge comes on the scene with the affirmed discovery of a ■ prehistoric temple near the Bay of Islands. I should be quite inclined to agree with thim that these islands of Uew Zealand :have been inhabited by some very ancient' races at some unknown and remote epoch <of the past, and I myself surmised that some of such peoples might have been of Titanic physique. Now in the News' issue of Saturday, the 21st May last, a Taranaki lady is mentioned as having obtained photographs of tattooed rocks in the Raglan district. As the Maoris are not known, I think, ever to have cut or carved stone, such work must be that of much more ancient visitors than they.—l am. etc.. C.W.W.