"This bird gave rise to a rather amusing incident in the Hutt Valley during the time of the fighting. . . . A strong piquet was turned out regularly about an hour before daybreak. On one occasion the men had been standing silently under arms for some time, and shivering in the cold morning air, when they were startled by a solemn request for `more pork.' The officer in command of the piquet, who had only very recently arrived in the country, ordered no talking in the ranks, which was immediately replied to by another demand, distinctly enunciated, for `more pork.' So malaprop a remark produced a titter along the ranks, which roused the irate officer to the necessity of having his commands obeyed, and he accordingly threatened to put the next person under arrest who dared make any allusion to the unclean beast. As if in defiance of the threat, and in contempt of the constituted authorities, `more pork' was distinctly demanded in two places at once, and was succeeded by an irresistible giggle from one end of the line to the other. There was no putting up with such a breach of discipline as this, and the officer, in a fury of indignation, went along the line in search of the mutinous offender, when suddenly a small chorus of `more pork' was heard on all sides, and it was explained who the real culprits were."
1866. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 100:
"The last cry of a very pretty little owl, called from its distinctly uttered words the `more-pork.'"
1884. T. Bracken, `Lays of Maori,' p. 84:
"Sleeping alone where the more-pork's call
At night is heard."
1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 192:
"<i>Spiloglaux Novae-Zelandiae</i>, Kaup., More-pork of the colonists. Every New Zealand colonist is familiar with this little owl, under the name of `morepork.'"
<hw>Moreton-Bay</hw>, <i>n</i>. the name formerly given to the district of New South Wales which is now the colony of Queensland. The Brisbane river (on which is situated Brisbane, the capital of Queensland) enters it. See below.
<hw>Moreton-Bay Ash</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Ash</i>.
<hw>Moreton-Bay Chestnut</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Bean-tree</i>.