MUSEUM GIFTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 57, 8 March 1935, Page 3

MUSEUM GIFTS.

RECENT ACCESSIONS.

MAORI AND ISLAND ARTICLES.

' Several interesting additions have been made to the collection of the Auckland War Memorial Museum during the past few weeks.

Mr. R. Warburton, Auckland, lias given a collection of about 30 coins, among which is a Scottish farthing dated 1573. An unusual stone fishing weight has been given by Airs. H. R. Hesketh, of Epsom. The top, instead of having the usual groove to take the line, has a carved knob. This type of Maori sinker is much rarer than the grooved type. It was found in Mrs. Hesketh's garden in Gillies' Avenue.

Mr. C. Alma Baker has given a wooden fern beater, found at a depth of sft on his farm at Port Waikato; Mrs. J. Coleman, of Epsom, a collection of Melanesian carved figures, canoe ornaments and clubs; Mr. G. Graham, a wooden club from Fiji and a dance wand from Santa Cruz. This latter article is some 2ft long and carved to represent the outside of a canoe. It was used by the natives in their canoe dances.

Rear Admiral Burges Watson _ has presented an ancient greenstone heitiki. It is of especial interest as the figure still has a pawa shell inlay to represent the eye. A stone Rarotongan adze has been given by Mr. Usher, of Rarotonga.

Two Mills bombs (minus explosives), have been added to the war section of the museum by Mr. T. J. Welch, while Mr. C. J. O'Kesfc has given, among other books, a military phrase book of Turkish, English and Greek in use by soldiers during the war.