TREASURES SECURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 164, 13 July 1929, Page 11

TREASURES SECURED.

[ MAORI RELICS IN NORTH. i MR. GRAHAM'S COLLECTION". HISTORIC CARVED POST GIVEN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. The treasure store of Maori curios in the Auckland Museum will be much augmented by numerous historical relics, which Mr. David Graham, the museum's research officer, has collected recently in the Bay of Islands.

Since leaving Ivawakawa, where, among otlier valuable specimens, he obtained a Kapa Torn carving, he has secured fern heaters, canoe paddles, kumara weeders, Ruapekapeka firearms, an officer's sword, stone adzes, greenstone articles, a wooden fish hook, stone sinkers, a William the Fourth florin, dated 1836, which was found in a cave, and the carved stern part of the last canoe used in a raid in the Bay of Plenty.

One relic worthy of special mention is a carved post given by a chief whose ancestor, Pu • Totara, six generations back, fought Pora Harakeke over fishing rights on Tai Kirau Creek, near where Otiria Station now. stands. Many fights took place between these two, and it was not until Pu nearly drowned Pora that the title was determined. Pu then had a post carved and used it in securing an enaki or eel net in the creek. This carved post also gave his descendants a title to land about the creek.

Among other things promised - Mr. Graham are two rare feather boxes and a handsome collection of kauri gum.

Mr. Graham experienced difficulty in securing the consent of various parties interested in some eight greenstone meres. He offered to have these placed in the museum, as a safe place of keeping. Maori committee meetings are being held—one to-day—to consider the matter.

Mr. Graham states that in every instance the older Maoris agreed to Che searching of all burial grounds by men who have- the interests of the Maori race at heart.

Reminiscent of the founding of the Church of England mission at Paihia, Kerikeri, a number of relics are now held by Mr. W. E. Bedggood, of Warmate,. North. These have been offered to the museum after the centenary exhibition on January 12 next. Among those of special interest are a rope jack tackle for making tow, and an old sperm oil lam]), all dating back to 1814. Interesting information in regard to mosquito research has also been secured by Mr. 4 Graham, who passed through Whangarei, en route to Auckland, today.