MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1941, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

MO A. ' K<‘curile<l by JUS, of P.ibni-r-tob North, to: th.- •. Ihe i.bscncc ~f four-f«»>ted animals of any kind in this ideal land <>! peace, sunshine and plenty, together with :'s wingless giant birds, largest of all in tb.e world, fossil <>r living, are the most reasonable problems in nature The manner in winch the existence f the moa became known is a triumph of mental reason, showing the value >4 science. In Sir Robert Peel's gallery <d scientists may be seen the portrait ■ f Professor Richard Ow< n holding the portion of tile leg bone of the giant bird by means of which this remarkable piiib'.-ojrher revealed its existence to a sceptical world, which included every other naturalist of his day In 1K39 Mr Rule, a navigator, brought to England a broken piece of the bird'.-1 tiu;:!i bone, about 8 inches long and "(J ■ m ile , io ciretinffvi ene.-, from winch I I’ l ' '• Ow.-n produced what prow-it I b* •> ' I'iiiai l.alsly cori'i .-t m. ntal picture <.f tills gall.: lard, hitii.-rto ooiaiowi: and ouc< •.mU-Lrv.-d bv al! IL J fi-wmis b.-hcvca implicitly that genius! .main iiad proved its relationship I ‘o insanity anti s-mpht earnestly suppt.-ss publication of !i s work o:i :!'..■ i ground that :t would bring r i d.cu !>• ! upon ins people and ruin hi- n patnu. n ! as a leading sen-ntiM. Since tli.-n Professor f'ly.es; (h-cy. r J rrt from f..ssil remains s.m- to England! ay early sotth-is. th.- former .-xi-b.-.,. •f I I '■p ( .(. l! | l ,m- ■ f wing!,-. ■ In tii>- City of London not the least' .mrmus objects i, :i: .. .j-,.' :iri'.r,.h Museum and tin- a! Coll. ■ . : cn al! other giant speciv- b) ii.ivm.;:i