MAORI MOKO

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 110, 5 November 1925, Page 7

MAORI MOKO

THE EOBLEY COLLECTION

(FIIOM OUII OWN COHHESPONDBNT.)

LONDON, 17th September

„ There camo up for sale at Stevens's uctiun rooms this week an article •.vliicli recalls tho time when (aeneral 11. Q. Eobley was trying to induce the New Zealand Government to buy his collection of smoked Maori heads. This was an enlarged photograpli of the famous collection, showing about fifty heads. The picture had been in the possession of the late Mr. Stevens, and it was disposed of along with a large quantity of his othe/ personal belongings. It will be remembered that General Bobley's offer was refused by the New Zealand Government. The Government was evidently not interested in the remarkable collection. Maoris in England for the Queen Victoria Jubilee and for the Coronation viewed the collection, and all of them expressed the wish that the heads should be bo eared for in Now Zenland, find not handled by strangers and women. However, in the end they \s-en x sold 1o America., and prohablV the finest and largest collection of Maori heads is now housed in the Natural History Museum, New York.

Tho photograpli sold in London this week created considerable interest among dealers, and it was disposed of for £7 10s. The proprietors of (lie auction room are how male ing a search for' the negative." If the photograph brought £7 10s, tliey ash., what will the negative be worth?

The cablo ucws In tbls Issue accredited en •'ths Timej" has appeared in tbat jourmil, but oaly wliere ejptoß&iy stated Is «ncU o«w« tUf ■(Oiiorl»l oplalua a! "Ilw I'iuica.'