Sumner Cave - Alexander McKay
This was a belated entry to the dispute between Alexander McKay and Haast about the nature of the moa hunters, the stratigraphy of Sumner Cave and a burial within it. This is mostly about the latter. It was never published in McKay's lifetime but discovered in his papers.
This is taken from Bishop, G. 2008. The real McKay, the remarkable life of Alexander McKay, geologist. Otago University Press, Dunedin. The capitalisation and punctuation are as in that source.
Sumner Cave
Was it a paleolithic man
Or was it but a maori
Or was it some unfortunate
Not long since gone to glory
The body found in Sumner Cave
And now in the Museum
It had broken arm: and teeth
That much did want renewing
The world of Science does not seem
To be agreed about it
One says 'twas there before the Flood
Another says I doubt it
Now this looks grave and throws a doubt
On some ones observation
Which being so it is I confess
A serious accusation
I've read the subject carefully
And think I understand
The true position of the case
And what it does demand
The matter I might not decide
But if my vote were taken
I'de give it on the winning side
If I were not mistaken
To arbitrate so great a case
And settle it for ever
I am ambitious I confess
My judgement to deliver
On one great point all are agreed
The same admits of proving
It had a broken arm: and teeth
That much did want renewing
Tis also clear 'twas found inside
The famous Sumner Cave
On the sou- west side close to the wall
May yet be seen the Grave
But whether it Six or Sixty inch
Beneath the Surface lay
Is not so clear you are asked to believe
It might be either way
Did the ancient Neolithic man
Disturb the Sleepers rest
Or Shoot his kitchen rubbish there
In piles upon his breast
Could this be: and, the wakeful ghost
The act leave unavenged
I trow not else the Spirits leave
Their tactics lately changed
Meanwhile it seems to be quite clear
The Body might have been
No longer in its restingplace
And from that State 'twould seem
When Logic shows that Sixty inch
May just as well means Six
I'll then consider I've found my way
Out of an awkward fix
While fifty or five hundred years
Would suit the case as well
But frankly where the proofs are scant
How long no one can tell
Rather dull stuff. His The Canterbury Gilpin, published in 1880 under the psedonym Dinornis Sumnerensis, has Haast riding a Moa through Christchurch and is much more fun. A copy can be seen here.
This was not the only poetic outing for the cave - see Excavations at Redcliffs 1958.
A poetic tribute to McKay written by a colleague William Skey also has a reference to his endeavors "... in Sumner's far caves, ..." (p102 ' Philip Andrews 2011 Stones Bones Steam, Biblophil, Rotorua).
