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Art. XII.—On the Discovery of a cut Stump of a Tree, giving Evidence of the Existence of Man in New Zealand at or before the Volcanic Era.
Plate VI.
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 29th June, 1874.]
I Have to record this evening a discovery giving a trace of human life on this island, and in this locality, reaching back beyond history, and supporting the Maori tradition that this island was inhabited before their arrival here, and that the Maeros * of the North Island and the Ngatimamaeros * of the South Island, may yet be found to be real aborigines, and not degenerate or wild Maoris, as has been supposed by many. This latter belief has doubtless arisen from want of evidence beyond the faint tradition of the Maoris. Such evidence I have been fortunate enough to obtain, and now submit to this Institute, trusting that the link thus supplied may be the means, in hands more versed than mine in the early history of New Zealand, of deciphering a page of its history, and throw light on a subject that has puzzled many.
Heavy excavations have been carried on at and about the Albert Barracks by the Auckland Improvement Commissioners for the purpose of making new streets for the benefit of the city. During last March, while works were being carried on in Coburg Street, near the junction of Wellesley Street
[Footnote] * For an account of Maeros and Ngatimamaeros, see Hochstetter's “New Zealand,” page 210.
[Footnote] * For an account of Maeros and Ngatimamaeros, see Hochstetter's “New Zealand,” page 210.
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Plan of Part of the City of Auckland, shewing position of the Stump when discovered. March 1874
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East, the workmen came upon the tree stump, now before you (see Pl. VI.), lying in the centre of a narrow channel below the road level, this channel having been cut for the purpose of laying sewer pipes. Through the intelligence of Mr. James Williamson, the contractors overseer, who at once recognised its value, it was saved. Shortly after I was on the spot, and my attention was drawn to it.
It being important that the discovery should be verified by undoubted authority, I immediately went for, and returned accompanied by Theophilus Heale, Esq., Inspector of Surveys, who satisfied himself as to the genuineness of the discovery, and the undisturbed stratification of the volcanic débris of about 25 feet lying above. The place where the stump was found is shown on plan and section (Pl. VI.). In the section I have shown the stump as when found resting on the clay. It was in its natural position, upright, with its roots penetrating the clay, of which fact I satisfied myself by digging deeply below to a depth of over two feet, and found the traces of roots going down. The surface of the clay has loam in it. The top of the stump was embedded in volcanic mud, and above it there were 25 feet of débris in perfect stratification, as shown in section. These stratified beds of ooze and débris can be traced till they reach the beds of cinders, and thence to the conglomerated mass of scoria and basaltic lava, which occurs adjacent to the volcanic centre. The clay in which the stump once grew occurs immediately above the tertiary rocks, and and is from 10 to 15 feet thick. This stump is asserted by those who have a knowledge of New Zealand woods to be of tea-tree (manuka) the wood that has been chiefly used by Maoris for making paddles. It has an undoubted appearance of having been cut by some tool, and being so must have been by the hand of man. I leave it to any one to satisfy themselves by a personal examination whether it be so or not. The cut seems to be too fresh to refer back to so remote a period as the volcanic era, but with the evidence we have of the finest markings of ferns, shells, & c., being preserved from ages vastly more remote, surely we may expect it from this, which in comparison is but recent.
Undoubted as these facts may appear it may yet be well to consider by what other means they may have been produced. The stump may have been lodged where found by a landslip, it may have been burnt off, or it may have belonged to a rotten tree and been broken down by the wind, or by the flow of the volcanic ooze in which it is embedded. That the stump was not lodged there by a landslip may be seen by the section which shows the overlying strata perfectly undisturbed, and it is further evident that it must have grown on the spot where found as its roots were penetrating the lower clay; every where above the clay abundant remains of trees occur and roots in the clay, showing that the place was wooded at the time prior to its being covered by
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the volcanic débris. That it was not burnt off is certain, from the sharpness of the edges of the surface, the absence of charcoal, or even of a charred appearance, and the presence of a projecting piece of wood in the centre of the stump, which must have held the tree upright to the last, and which would not have existed had it been fired. That it did not result from a rotten tree is equally evident, for it could not now be in so good preservation, the bark would not have remained on it, the sharpness of the edges would not have existed, and the wood would not now be fibrous; decayed wood would have lost its fibrous structure. It is therefore beyond any doubt that we have evidence of the existence of man long before the period indicated by the traditions of the Maoris of their advent to this island, and at a period before what is probably the oldest volcano in Auckland became extinct. In the Maori traditions there is no mention of any of the volcanos near Auckland having been active.