NEW EXHIBITS

Evening Star, Issue 22780, 15 October 1937, Page 3

NEW EXHIBITS

fiEGENT GIFTS TO MUSEUM MAGNIFICENT SHIP MODEL A number of items have been presented to the Museum recently, and these are now on exhibit. Two adzes, a sinker, and a collection of flake knives were given by Mr R. Crews, of Owaka. One of these adzes would have been a perfect specimen, but for some reason its owner apparently decided to redress it. With the exception of one corner and its equivalent on the other side, the whole of the high polish has been removed, but the corners have, with deliberate care, been left polised. The motive is not apparent. Mrs A. M. Collier, now of Grimsdale, Blenheim, has presented a collection of bows and arrows from Banks Island and from the New Hebrides. Mr R. A. S. Browne, now of Morrinsville and formerly of Southland, has given a small collection, including some particularly beautiful pieces. One of these is a large and splendid greenstone gouge found by Mrs Browne at the mouth of the Tokanui Stream, Southland. There is also a shank of a fishhook beautifully cut from some variety of fine sandstone. This was found at Waikato Heads. Another item is portion of what must originally have been a greenstone adze of exceptional beauty; two pieces that remain appear to have been intended as pendants, but are unfinished. This item was ploughed up at Tokanui and was presented through Mr Browne by Mr S. Miller, Portobello. A small adze found -in his garden at Anderson’s Bay has been presented by Mr O. Dudley. Maori remains are very rarely found' in the Dunedin area, and this piece has therefore a special local interest. Mr H. Chennells has presented a magnificent model of a famous English ship-of-war, the Sovereign of the Seas, launched in 1637. This vessel was reputed to be the most beautiful ship of war that ever sailed, and Mr Chennells has succeeded in capturing her beauty. He spent two and a-half years in the. making of the model, paying remarkable attention to detail. The many gunports are hinged, the blocks and pulleys, all hand made, are _in correct position, and the decorative work is skilfully finished and well designed. An excellent sense of proportion is evident throughout. The shrouds and rigging are particularly intricate, and that part of the work alone must have occupied Mr Chennells for many hours.