A STRANGE MUMMY FROM HINDON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1790, 15 September 1888, Page 1

A STRANGE MUMMY FROM HINDON.

"We have to go from home to hear about the wonders of New Zealand. Ihe Macleod Gazette, a newspaper published in Canada, gires the following extraordinary story:—"Mr F. Champness, collector of. customs at Lethbridge, has in his possession a most interesting relic of bygone days in the shape of a mummy or skeleton. He has this strange object enclosed in a glass case, in the exact position in which it was found. The,mummy was discovered by Mr Champness himself, in 1864, at Hindon, on the West Taieri river, near Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, while prospecting for gold in the mountains. It was found in a cave, 80ft from the surface, surrounded by poisonous wood, and the leg-bone of the.extinct Moa bird, which stood 80ft high, lving across the head. Around the neck is some plaited human hair, and between the knees the skeleton of a toil bird, a bird which is: held in great veneration byithe present Maoris. Mr Champness took this specimen to England, and for some time it was on exhibition in the British Museum. Dr Owen pronounced it. to be the remains of an adult woman, whose height when living was not more than 3ft. It has been pronounced by several other wellknown men to be a valuable specimen, owing to its rarity.. Several specimens of this race have been found, but none of them, except this one, is, perfect. The present race of Maoris, who took possession ef New-Zealand 800 or 900 years ago, know nothing of the existence of this race, which inhabited the island befere them. Dr Hector, the Government geologist of New Zealand* said there was no doubt the specimen was over 1000 years old. The Maoris bury their dead in trees, while this and other specimens were found in caves, showing the existence of the latter before the former came on the scene. After Mr Champness discovered the mummy he was chased by the police for two days. They thought a murder had been committed, and wanted to hold an inquest."