Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/209

canoes. As in most bays where the Maoris lived, strata of bones of all kinds are found where they had been heaped up after a feast, mixed with fish bones and shells. A close examination proves also that the natives did not confine themselves to this food. Piles of human bones, which are all separated from one another, and piled up close to the kitchen middens, disclose the fact that cannibalism was a common practise amongst them.

Mr. Cuff, father of Mr. Cuff of Cuff and Graham, was the first settler in Le Bon’s. He went there with his family, and lived in a tent for some time, and eventually built the house now on Mr. Henry Barnett’s property. It has been added to, however, and so much improved that there is little of the old house left. When Mr. Cuff came, the Bay was covered in dense bush and heavy timber: that was in 1857, Le Bon’s being much later settled than most of the Peninsula bays. Mr. Cuff saw that there was a great deal of valuable timber, and started a sawmill on the banks of the creek close to his house. Mr. Cuddon, now in Christchurch, brought the engine down, and the vessel was floated up the creek. There was a great difficulty in getting the engine ashore, as it sunk in the mud, and it was some time before the mill was got into working order. It came on to blow severely, and the vessel that brought the engine was detained a month in the Bay. When it did start the mill had plenty of work. The flat was covered with white and black pines as thick as they could stand, and the sides of the valley grew immense totaras and other timber. Mr. Cuff brought cattle with him, and improved the land about his house. The walnut trees still standing were planted by him, and are nearly as old as those on Muter’s place in German Bay.

The Maria Ann and Gipsey, ketches, were the first vessels that carried the timber from the Bay to