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).