A Maori Relic.
Mr Eobt. Graham has recently come into possession of Mataatonga,. an ancient stone image which the Maoris say was brought from Hawaiki in an Arawa canoe, some three generations ego, and was buried on the island of Mokoia, where it has since : laid concealed as the presiding diety and protector. Daring all this time oo man has ever had the privilege of seeing it except Grey and Graham. The appearance of the stone is disappointing, it being nothing bat a huge sandstone boulder about half-a* ton ia weight with imperfect traces of arms and legs on it; it is much weatherworn. ;
New Plymouth, Tuesday. The correspondent of the Tarariaki' Herald at Ohinemutu telegraphed today as follows:—A seizure was made at Lake House Hotel premises, yesterday, under a search warrant, of the celebrated stone image, Matua a Tonga, which is said to have been brought by the Maories in one of the original canoes to Maketu, and afterwards brought by Tuhaorangi to the i Island of Monoro, and buried there. Sir George Grey is said to have been the onlyEuropean who ever saw the. image until it was discovered on the 14th, by the employes of Mr Graham, who, on the evening of the 15th, brought it over to the Lake House. The figure represents a human being sitting on the haunches, with the knees drawn close up to the body; the forearms are flat against the chest, and the hands are extended upwards, with the palms against the body and the fingers resting under the chin, The height of the figure is about 4 feet 8 inches, and the greatest girth is over 7 feet. It weighs more than a toD. There is great excitement both among: the Maoris and Europeans. The former, because they look upon the disinterment as a gross outrage agaiust their most sacred relics; the latter, because the action of Mr Graham jeopardises the relations between themselves and the natives here, as the news of the outrage spreads amongst the hapus. The excitement is likely to increase. ,
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Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4436, 24 March 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)
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344A Maori Relic. Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4436, 24 March 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)
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