564 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



dum on the subject. He has told me in conversation that, 

 from his having hunted a good deal in India, he is quite sure 

 that the sounds which he heard were not produced by any 

 quadruped. 



MEMORANDUM. 



Shortly after the commencement of the Collingwood (Nelson) diggings, 

 I started one evening, rather late in the day, to walk over the range 

 that divides Eiwaka from the Takaka. On arriving at the top of 

 the range, I proceeded ahout half a mile, when I found that it would 

 soon be dark. I determined to camp where I was. I lighted a 

 fire and rolled myself in my blankets, and went to sleep. How long 

 I slept I know not. I was awoke by hearing a most unearthly 

 scream close to me, and apparently some feet from the ground. 

 This noise was followed by a drumming sound— similar to that made 

 by a woodheu, but louder and gruffer. The scream I speak of was 

 more of the nature of a roar, and different from anything I had ever 

 heard. I immediately seized my gun and stood on my feet — when I dis- 

 tinctly heard something walking away. I immediately followed, but as 

 my fire was almost out, and the dark clouds overshadowed the moon, and 

 knowing there was some precipitous ground in the vicinity, I returned to 

 my camping-ground. In about lialf an hour the noise was repeated, at a 

 distance of 400 or 500 yards. In a few minutes this roar was replied to by 

 a similar one, from the sandy-bay side of the range, distant more than 

 a mile ; from what source this noise came I have not the slightest idea. 

 On returning by the same route I stayed with a Mr. Cook, a Riwaka 

 farmer, and mentioned the circumstance to liim. He had been for many 

 years residing on this farm, and he informed me that he frequently heard 

 the same roar, and was unable to conjecture what it was. There was a 

 Llaori sitting in the room where we were talking, and, having been a 

 whaler for many years, talked English as well as I did. He remarked, " I 

 know what it was — a good many years ago I saw seme — it is a large kiwi, as 

 big as this " — standing up and holding his hands aloft. Mr. Cook informed 

 me that this Maori, known as Tommy Brunner, was a thoroughly reliable 

 man, and what he said could be depended upon. This is simplj' all I 

 know of the matter. I am quite sure it was no four-footed animal, from 

 the height the noise seemed to come. 



About twelve months afterwards four English emigrants arrived, 

 wearing the smock-frock then worn by farm-labourers. They proceeded 

 to Golden Gully looking for work, and shortly afterwards went some 

 miles further on — prospecting, I presume. They returned in great alarm 

 one day, stating that they had come suddenly upon an enormous bird 

 standing at the entrance of a cave or hollow on the hillside. They 

 described the bird as standing about 8ft. or 9ft., of a brown colour, with 

 a red mark round the eye. With the greatest difficulty we persuaded 

 them to show us the spot where they said the}' had seen the bird. A 

 party was formed, and remained and examined the cave and other places 

 for the period of two or three days. A number of caves were found, but 

 not all explored. In conclusion I may state that these countrymen had 

 seen or fancied they had seen something, for they were thoroughly 

 frightened. On inquiry we found they had never heard of a moa ; and, 

 judging from their manner and conversation, I do not think they could 

 ever have been twenty miles from their home. They were all large able- 

 bodied men, but thorough country-bumpkins, and quite unable, I should 

 imagine, to invent such a story. And the fear they showed proved that 

 something had frightened them. John Lockett. 



The Maori, apparently, did not know the bird by the name 

 of " moa " — only as a wingless one, like the kiwi. 



