460 Proceedings. 



tree with its tons of earth and pebbles sticking to its exjoosed roots, to the simple mound 

 and companion hole, prove over the whole of the interior of this part of New Zealand 

 that dense massive forests once waved their sombre branches. 



The gradual destruction of the forest may be seen to be going on at this present day 

 by any observer. The grass by which the plains are covered catches fire, and spreads to 

 the edges of the forest, when the dense surrounding copse igniting, assists to destroy a 

 fringe of the premival trees. 



Now, i.e., at the time I made the notes, Maori ovens are also seen in all parts of the 

 plains, in places where, ten miles around, no bush exists, but also they are found close to 

 it. This is another indication that the extirpation of the forest is gradual, owing to the 

 introduction of man and by his handiwork. 



The Maori oven was necessarily placed close to the forest for the sake of fuel. This 

 being the case, we may safely argue that when the ovens were found near the bush these 

 may be accepted as of recent construction, and those that are far distant from the same 

 are of antient date. This, I conceive, will hold generally to the true, though in the case 

 of ovens being found at seven to ten miles distant from the bush, it may be suggested 

 that clumps of trees had been there recently, and of this we saw indications on one ridge 

 in the remnants of rotten roots and trunks. 



It may be here noticed that small heaps of white or variegated pebbles, in most cases 

 not exceeding a handful, were very plentifully found in all directions. This feature was 

 a subject of much attention and controversy amongst the early settlers of Otago and Can- 

 terbury ; many suggesting that they were remnants of the crops of the Moa. My own 

 view is that they had been dug out of the soil by native-rats in making their holes, having 

 myself detected one newly formed in this manner. 



Oturumika, 2nd February, 1857. — Wood-hens in great abundance. The Maoris kill 

 the birds, at night, in this manner, — they kindle a fire in the forest, which attracts them, 

 then, taking advantage of their pugnacious propensities, they place a red rag tied to the 

 end of a stick before the bird, this it attacks, when the Maori, unobserved, strikes it down 

 with a stick. 



Tomogalak, 13th February, 1857. — Many Moa bones were found about, some having 

 a diameter of fully two inches. It is supposed that these bones are collections of the 

 birds killed by the Maoris. The remnant of their whatas (store-houses) are yet to be 

 seen, and do not appear to be more than thirty or forty years old. 



Leaving my notes I may say, to-night, that Moa bones were also found abundantly 

 on the Waiau, more particularly in excellent preservation in the limestone-caves near 

 the Gorge ; and after leaving Southland and coming to the interior and Northern Districts 

 of Otago, they were in yet greater abundance. On the Maniatoto plains the ovens were 

 literally surrounded by Moa bones and chert-stone chips, which the natives had evidently 

 used in cutting or scraping the fiesh from the bones. 



At Maruwhenua, on the Waitaki, Moa bones were strewed in all directions, indicating 

 that in this well-sheltered and warm locality the bird had coUectad in great flocks, and I 

 estimated at the time that many could not have lain over thirty years. And so much 

 was I convinced of the recent occupation of the country by the moa, that when I explored 

 the Waiau district, I half expected to have met with them, and one of my men, an old 

 sealer from Jacob's Eiver, from information derived from the Natives, supported the sug- 

 gestion. 



Before settlement, it may be remarked, that the various native grasses covered the 

 plains in undisturbed luxuriance, while thorns and spear grass choked up the gorges and 



