AN HISTORIC SPOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1920, Page 5

AN HISTORIC SPOT.

MANY RELICS FOUND, The mysterious skull which attracted Dr. Buck's attention while on a- visit nere recently was found on.a spot where there has evidently been many a fierce encounte- (writes the Whakatane correspondent of the Auckland Star). The spot is on the Hillerest estate, on the hills which overlook the town of Whakatane. They were discovered fcy a gang of workmen who were engaged in forming roads on the estate. Dr. Buck's skull and bones are or.lv a few of manv which have been found by that party. As v.or.n as they were found they' wore buri-d again, owing to the superstition the idaoris have that the bones of '"tapu," and there were several native workers in that gang. The foreman i describing Low the skull now in IV Buck's po'sessio.i w,i?. found, states that as soon as it was unearthed a native who was one of the first to see it dropped his tools and took to his heels. Only for this superstition Dr. Buck may I possibly have had many more skulls and bonos on which to experiment, At a glance one can see that the surrounding hills have been a network of fortresses. There is terrace upon terrace up those hills. Dr. Buck had -nid Whakatane was a most historic plac< being one of the first Maori settlements.' This particular spot must have been one of the main strongholds in tho Bay of Plenty. They could not have chosen a better position. Tho foe either had to attack through a narrow ravine or climb the almost cliff-like side of the hill. The presumption that there had been many a fight there is based on the fact that skeletons are continually being found there.

According to the foreman's statement three different kinds of: skeletons have been found. The head of each kind has been of entirely different shape, and presumably belong to the fern eaters, the Maoris, and the Europeans. This being the case Dr. Buck will have good scope for research work when he returns.

Another interesting place was pointed out at the foot of the hills. Until quite recently, when road formation spoiled many interesting relies, there was the remains of a Maori oven where it was evident that captives had been cooked and eaten. It, lias been said that dozens of hroken skeletons have been unearthed there. The increasing number of relics being Jound here has led to a suggestion to provide a museum to accommodate them. Nothing so far lias been done in the matter. It is a pity, as a very respectable exhibition could be made of relics found in the district.

Among other interesting finds recent. Iy were an antiquated cannon, about 3in. bore, and a limestone chisel. The latter, however, was so brittle that it snapped off in the finder's hands, and falling to the ground broke in three pieces. The Temaina were handed to Mr. W. G. K. Kenriek, the Magistrate for the district. The cannon still remains rusting where it was found.