548 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



Kidd, of Hawea, landed at the Bay of Islands fifty-seven 

 years ago, and resided there a number of years, and started 

 in life with Sir Donald McLean, and became in time a very 

 expert Maori linguist. He tells me that the Maoris were 

 never dog-fanciers ; that there were a few dogs in every pa, 

 which were of every colour and size, but the head, ears, eyes, 

 and tail were very similar to those of foxes." 



Mr. C. Goodall again writes, " I was in the Wairarapa in 

 1856 or 1857, when Mr. Kidd was living there. I had been 

 in several Maori pas, and I thought the Maoris were very 

 fond of their canine friends. From the Wairarapa I went to 

 Eangitikei, and visited many pas, and found those swarming 

 with cur-dogs of all kinds ; but we have nothing to do with 

 those dogs, as I found the san:ie kind running wild down 

 here. I think I have described the Maori or native dog 

 which was to be found in the mountains thirty years ago, 

 and I have not the slightest hesitation in stating that they 

 were quite distinct from any other breed I ever saw." 



"Digger," Preservation Inlet, writes, "Eeferring to the 

 native wild dogs so well described by ' C.G.,' Hokonui, I 

 believe I have some proof that they still exist. About the 

 beginning of last August I saw a dog answering to the descrip- 

 tion given, as well as could be judged at a distance of 300 

 yards. It appeared about the size of a colley, but somewhat 

 lanky ; was all white excepting the lower part of the shoulder 

 and upper part of the hind legs. These parts w'ere covered 

 with black or brown patches. When seen it was on the sea- 

 shore some few miles from Puysegur Point lighthouse. The 

 dog came out of a cave, and disappeared in the bush. No dog 

 of the same description was, so far as I can discover, ever seen 

 in these parts before. The country for many miles is covered 

 with thick bush, and there is plenty of good living for dogs, in 

 the shape of birds — kakapos, kiwis, penguins, &c. Would your 

 correspondent, ' C.G.,' kindly state whether the native dogs 

 are dangerous? W^ould they attack a person without provo- 

 cation ; or, if captured, would their skins be valuable — that is, 

 to stuff?" 



"C.G.," Hokonui, writes in answer to "Digger," Preser- 

 vation Inlet, " I may say that I think this is the same breed of 

 dogs described in a former letter. ' Digger ' need not be afraid 

 of their attacking him, or anybody else. As to the value of 

 the skin, if ' Digger ' could capture one of these dogs and pre- 

 serve skin, head, teeth, and tail, they would be valuable to a 

 naturalist, as in all probability it would decide this knotty 

 question. I would remind ' Digger ' that to capture one of these 

 animals he would have to go about his work very cautiously, 

 and mark which way the wind is blowing, as their sense of 

 smell is very keen." 



