GIFTS TO MUSEUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1928, Page 7

GIFTS TO MUSEUM.

WIDE RANGE OF ARTICLES.

CARVED FEATHER BOX.

MAORI MASTERPIECE

An increasing ntimber of gifts are being received by the Auckland Museum. The curator, Mr. G. Archey, reported at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Institute that the accessions £or the past month amounted to 137.

The most notable gift, which lias al-1 ready been described in the "Star," was the "wakahuia," or feather box, purchased in England and presented by Mr. W. Cecil Leys and his sister, Mrs. Selwyn Upton. The curator, in his report, stated that this magnificent carved feather box is a masterpiece of Maori workmanship, of jrreat age, and must be the finest wakahuia in existence. It was very gratifying to have this wonderful specimen in the Auckland collection, and the community was indebted to the donors for having secured its return to New Zealand. It was resolved, on the motion of the president, Mr. H. E. Vaile, that the donors be thanked, and a special resolution was passed expressing the council's gratitude to Mr. Leys and Mrs. Upton. A fine collection of Papuan and Nigerian ethnological specimens was presented, and specially' catalogued b_v Mr. .T. li. Adams Wilkes, of Xew Guinea. Among the articles presented are the following:—An old bone tosgle and a Fijian pendant, Mr. H. E. Vaile. A particularly beautiful Maori bone comb, Mr. F. Crosslev Mappin. A famous curved ear-pendant of Inanga greenstone, bearinsr the name of "Parekorangi," Mr. D. Macfarlaue, of Rotorua. A large tiki, with tlie face partly defaced, and new carving commenced upon the defaced portion, Mr. P. W. M. Holt. Stone adzes and specimens of windsculptured stones, Mr. A. T. Pycroft. Collection of Maori fish hooks, patu and adzes from the Chatham Islands, Mr. J. J. Fougere. Specimens of new species of mollusca, Professor Worley and the Rev. F. Worley. Collection of "shark products, Mrs. Ruby Watson, Chinese porcelain, Miss L. M. Browne. Poi-balls and stone adzes, including one found in an excavation in Queen Street, Mr. Geo.- Graham. The council accepted an offer to acquire by purchase a collection of water-colour drawings of moths, butterflies, native plants and other natural history objects, and a collection of birds' eggs and prepared skins of Xew Zealand birds. An offer was received from the family of the latt Mr. Kavanagh to deposit a large and valuable collection of kauri gum in the Museum, and it was accepted with thanks. A valuable collection of Maori curios made hv Mr. Kavanagh is already on loan to the Museum.