MYRTLE THE MOA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1939, Page 6

MYRTLE THE MOA

HER SECOND EXHIBITION. FEATURE OF SPECIAL STAND. Standing in a garden setting, which includes New Zealand native flora, at the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition is a moa more than twelve feet high. She has been called “Myrtle” with the unanimous approval of those who have seen her, although there is no definite proof of her sex. It is hoped, however, that she will live up to her name during the period of the Exhibition and present an egg to the authorities controlling her. Myrtle is what is known as a restoration and was made in the Dominion Museum, Wellington, by the late Mr H. Hamilton for the Wemblej- Exhibition in England; the Centennial Exhibition is thus Myrtle's second experience of an international fair.

She is the outstanding feature in the exhibit which, contains the National Centennial Roll of Commemoration and visitors' book. This exhibit has been designed by the Exhibition authorities so that on the occasion of the hundredth birthday of New Zealand every citizen should have the opportunity of permanently identifying himself with the celebrations. This volume will be of national interest to everyone in the Dominion, for, at the close of the Exhibition the completed volume with its many thousands of signatures will be placed in the Dominion Museum, and there it will remain for all time as one of New Zealand’s historical documents. Myrtle, who has for some days been lying covered in sawdust in two pieces, has been completely assembled, groomed and prepared for opening day. Mr C. Lindsay of the Dominion Museum staff explained that Myrtle represents one of the largest species of moa in Now Zealand. "There were 22 types of moa in the Dominion—the smallest being 2ft. film in height—so that when the moa is referred to it indicates a large group of birds found in New Zealand." said Mr Lindsay. He explained that it was, difficult to say exactly when the moa became extinct, but the date is generally considered to be not more than 200 years ago. Moas are known only from their bones, fossilised eggs, and. in some rare cases, their feathers and dried flesh. Because of this scanty record of her antecedents Myrtle, although she looks like a moa. contains no part of a moa at all. She has been constructed artificially and has a coat of emu feathers from Australia. To all appearances, however, Myrtle is as real a moa as any that ever terrified smaller inhabitants of New Zealand when her family were alive and roaming the native forests.