Haast. — Researches in Sumner Moa Cave. 57 



Before giving a description of the cave as I found it before beginning my 

 labours I may observe that the same was well known from the very beginning 

 of the Canterbury settlement. It was even inhabited by some of the earliest 

 settlers, and for some time afterwards afforded shelter to lime-burners, fisher- 

 men, and road parties, of whom, as will be seen in the sequel, ample traces 

 were left behind. 



The entrance of the cave, which is about forty feet from the crown of the 

 Sumner road, which has here an altitude of 18*59 feet above high-water mark, 

 is situated nearly 5 feet lower, or 13*64 feet above high water, taking the 

 level of the surface for our line. 



An opening, which is about 30 feet broad by 8 feet high, being, however, 

 much narrowed by a huge rock, leads into the cave, of which I found the floor 

 slightly sloping down. The cave itself consists of three compartments, of 

 which the first one possesses by for the greatest dimensions, running nearly 

 due north and south, and being 102 feet long, 72 feet broad towards the 

 middle, and about 24 feet high. 



From its termination, by a small passage a second cave is reached, which 

 is 18 feet long, 14 feet wide, and about 11 feet high; its direction being north 

 by w r est to south by east; at its southern end a small passage, 3 feet high, by 

 about 2*50 feet broad, leads into a third or inner chamber, which is 22 feet 

 long, with an average width of 16 feet, and about 20 feet high, running again 

 like the principal cave due north and south; its floor being about eight feet 

 above high-water mark. 



My best thanks are due to Mr. T, Roberts, the present engineer of the 

 Gladstone and Timaru Board of Works, who, at my request, has taken the 

 necessary levels and surveyed the cave, the result of his labours being 



attached to this report. 



Contents of Care. 



An examination of the surface beds showed that the floor of the main cave 

 was, in some localities, covered with the remains of European occupation, in 

 many others by the excrements of goats and cattle, introduced into Canterbury 

 by the Europeans in 1839; but that everywhere below them, when visible, 

 portions of shells of mollusks w T ere occurring, the same species as still inhabit 

 the estuary close by, and had served as food to the natives of the islands 

 visiting the cave in former times. 



Towards the end of the main cave these beds gradually thinned out and 



marine 



sands, the former floor of the cave, reached the surface. 



So, proceeding with two labourers to the cave, I instructed them to dig 



two trenches, crossing each other at right angles, in the centre of the cave, 



I 



