A MAORI HOUSE.
The carved Maori house of MatuaAtua, which is part of the New Zealancl exhibit in the Exhibition, has a curious history. It was built' in the early seventies of last century by a chief who had as one object the permanent reconciliation of two tribes. The *people eventually took the scheme up with enthusiasm,'and the deified ancestors of a number of tribes and subtribes of Hawke’s Ilav and the Rav of Plenty wore reproduced by the most skilled of the craftsmen. The house was completed ih 1874, and in March. 1876, was opened hv the late. Sir Donald MeljO.an, the Minister of Native Affairs in the New 'Zealand Parliament. The Maori owners permitted tho Government to send the house to the Sydney Exhibition in 1879. From that time .it appears to have lost some of its virtue and saeredness in the eves of the natives. At the close of the Sydney Exhibition it was presented to the Imperial Government, with the i'clea that it should find a place in the South Kensington Museum", and there it was stored for over 40 years. The Museum authorities have now returned the house to the New,Zealand Government, who are expected to provide for its future preservation as the last and best sample of its kind.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 August 1924, Page 10
Word Count
215A MAORI HOUSE. Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 August 1924, Page 10
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