OTAGO UNIVERSITY MUSEUM

Evening Star, Issue 17350, 12 May 1920, Page 7

OTAGO UNIVERSITY MUSEUM

The most important recent addition to the_ ethnographic collections of the Otago University Museum is that of Maori artifacts from Otago beaches presented by Mr J. W. Murdoch [t includes 103 pieces in greenstone, 84 pieces in stone of other kinds, and 196 pieces in bone. shell, and whale ivoTy. Its value, which is considerable from any point of view, is greatly enhanced by the' fact that- the locality of every article is recorded. The collection has been set out in the Maori -room in a table-ease beside the John White collection and in a section of an adjoining case. The part claiming most attention is the greenstone section, much of which was collected bv Mr Murdoch at Murdering Beach when that famous hunting ground was first being explored. The most notable part of the bone and ivory section is the trio of beautiful pendants from Stewart Island. Beside them may be noted a massive pendant of moa bone in the shape of the shank of a fishhook, foiind at Doctors' Point, Blueksin. On an adjoining card are two bone bird fcpe.irpoints of exceptionally fine workmanship. Of the adzes in an adjoining case the roughest is scientifically 1 the most interesting.- Tt was found by "Mr Murdoch firmlv embedded in the bank of the Waikouaiti Stream under Bft of -undisturbed gravel* Though similar finds have keen reported in -S"ew Zealand before, none hltve been sufficiently authenticated, and this is the first evidence of weight in support of the antiquity of man in these islands. A visit paid to the Chatham Islands by a member of the Museum staff has resulted in a large accession of Moriori material, which is set out in a new tabh"case'in the Maori room. A number of objects were collected on old campingplaces, and others were presented bv Mrs R. Lanauze, Miss Sevmonr, and MeWs G- S Irwin. R M'Clurg, T. Q. M'Clur E , VV. Murphy, John Eenwick, Thos. Ritchie, G. Robertson, and T. .Solomon. The lastnamed gentleman is one of the two surviving Morioris. Among a number of articles from the Chatham Islands secured by purchase is one of great historical interest—the carved figurehead of one of the Taranaki war canoes 'taken to the group m the Rodney when the island w invaded by the Maoris in 1835. Tbh battered rehc has not yet been placed on exhibition.

Other gifts to the Museum include a collection of ornaments and weapons from Alapoon, North Queensland, presented by a German stretcher-bearer's faeid-dressing outfit, presented by Captain P. Benham; an Egyptian mummified hawk, presented by Mrs Hanson Tu"ton • a Chinese balao.ee, presented by Mr T Davis; a flint implement from the Couth Downs, presented by Mr E. De Beer; a collection of stone implements from North Auckland, presented by -Mr G. Lindo Ferguson; a greenstone chisel and a pair of Maori sandals, presented bv Mr N. M. Cameron; a scraper and adzes*from the Dart Valley, presented bv Mr 0. Haines;' a Maori mat made at Hen lev' presented by Mr W. Adam; a, Maori gouge and flakes, presented bv Mr T. Adam; a collection of bone implements from Long Beach, presented by Mr E. H.. Gibson.