Startling scenes near Okoroire.
Are there spirits about?
There is much speculation in the country about Okoroire on account of certain strange manifestations that are alleged to have taken place there. The news has reached Auckland through three prospectors who have been made the principal victims of these attacks, and some sceptics have been convinced by the honesty of the narrators of the existence of spirits, and are inclined to think there is “something in it.” The three men who are our informants are named Findlay, Regan, and Ryan, and they were engaged in prospecting on the ranges about fifteen miles from Okoroire for an Auckland syndicate.
They were camped on a small open spot on the side of a spur in the dense bush. The party originally consisted of four, but one, Thomas Morgan, left the place early, and his companions believe that he was scared by the strange crackling round the camp each evening. But after he left these manifestations became worse. One night, when the party were all sound asleep, all their billies, tin cans, and utensils were hurled upon them. A search around the tent revealed nothing.
On subsequent evenings the cannonading was resumed, but nothing could be seen to cause it. Sticks, branches, and timber came flying through the tent. On one occasion a billhook was thrown at Findlay, and he was scratched by the implement. The spirit at last took to hurling rocks as a pasttime. He or she has a predilection for beef cans and milk tins. These he stole from the tent, but hurled back again. On one occasion a tin was taken away, and returned full of leaves.
The men beat the bush round the tent, but could find nothing. Even the discharge of a shot gun at a venture, had no effect. There is an old Maori burial-ground near, and some people think that may have some connection with the manifestations. If Mr Stead were here he could make something of this curious case, but unfortunately Auckland journalists are not believers in “spooks.”Someone has started th theory that there is a monkey in the bush in that locality, but that is not likely. The men who have been attacked in this fashion are in town, and are ready to be put on oath as to the manifestations.
New Zealand Herald, 18th February 1898.
Things the Observer would like to know.
– Whether there was not a flavour of whisky about those alleged spirits of Okoroire that were throwing tin cans and timber about?
Observer (NZ), 26th February 1898.