THE EXHIBITION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXV, Issue 288, 19 December 1889, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

EARLY HISTORY -COURT. \ I ' -v [UNITED PRESB ASSOCIATION.] Ddnedin, December 18. The skill and ingenuity of the pre-his--toric Maori is strikingly apparent on inspection of the splendid show cases exhibited by- Mr F. R. Chapman, of Diiriedin, Mr John White, of Anderson's Bay, andMr F. M. Mitchell, of Manapouri. Here may be seen m great variety curiously formed stone implements from mere flint chips, obscidian, and chest • knives to splendidly shaped and polished adzes and axes, some of the latter being ten or 121bs m weight. Surely there were " giants m the land" m those days to have weilded snch mighty weapons. Fancy swinging a 121 b axe head ! Maori tradition states that each time their ancestors took one of these weapons they uttered a " Karakia," or incantation to keep the edge on and prevent it chipping. It was wise to say their prayers before-hand, for a want of breath must have resulted after each heavy spell of worlj. In Mr White's case may be seen the mode of cutting-green-stone m every stage. Bird spears, fishhooks, and many other implements made from human bones are shown m great abundance. In lieu of obtaining more tangible revenge, the Maoris robbed the places or sepulphiea of their enemies and converted their bones into domestic implements. No doubt it was this characteristic that made the ancient Maoris observe such secrecy m the disposal of the dead. Great chiefs are always buried m the dead of night, and their resting places made known to a few of the oldest men m the tribe only. Captain Mair exhibits about 150 articles, principally carvings, many of which are extremely old and valuable. His collection is displayed mainly m two large wall cases and four smaller ones. In one there are five specimens of " kuronites," or elaborately carved bowls, used for serving up preserved bitds to a distinguished guest. On the | lid of one of these quaint bowls are two figures wrestling, which represent a struggle for the possession of a piece of land at Rotorua between two ancestors many generations ago. The two side figures supporting the bowls are supposed to be the umpires: Another of these bowls is shown being carried on the back of the historical dog Potakatawhiti, the killing of which by Uneku led to fighting, and resulted m m Tamatekapua migrating to New Zealand m the Avawa canoe. There are also some remarkable feather boxes called waka or papahuia. A curious double headed stone image or Kuniara god, found .by.Mr.Hoby at Tarahaki, and at the opposite end another stone figure from the same district. A special divinity was supposed to watch over the Kumara to whom propitiatory offerings and the first fruits were invariably given. Otherwise the growing crops were liable to be blighted by wind or frost or devoured by caterpillars. A carved human figure (34) was often placed m the cultivation for the above purpose. There are several fine specimens of "parewhare" or door architraves (4), which when placed on the top gf floor posts (5), wider at the bottom than at the, toy boi,b a remarkable resemblance fa tfo gateways of tb,e ' Assyrians. $o, 15 '/is a shprj; handled tqmahaw^ or potite takefl from the notorious balLcastp, Bajkev Sfcftean, TeKooti'a butcher, with whjeh he is reported to have killed 15 or 20 prisoners, including several Europeans at Mohaka, m 1869. 19 is a yare weapon, a grenstone battle-axe called Tokihohoupa, used only by the highest chiefs. 89 is Putanekai's koana or flute. Tradition states that Whakane instructed a Priest or Tohunga called Murirangarangq tf) perform the ceremony of Tc^jtitu, baptis'inpf dedication to jfcef' god' pi; '^ar; of his ton : TirtanWki. ' A f ter thtf c'er^mo'ny l had b,een' completed the Tohuflga tieflarnfc t'apu, anil apqor&ing to the Maori custom could not touch any kind of food with his hands fop weeks, or even months and years, yet notwithstanding this lie was seen to gather berries (poupou) m the wood on the hills behind Rotorua and eat them. Whakane avenged the slight placed upon his son by killing Murirang. aran«a and forming a flute from hie p.i<m bong |cif , Eia itov.oifijtq ohild. 45 isu curious'stone formed of two figures, prbbablya Krimara god.said to have been brought m the Rlalatua' cause over twenty gen.brat4Qps. ago; TJiis stoije w&s lost for geu^ratio^^. ■■tym;i?# 'attack the TiKu'ijfu tiah'Olase" to Hie Bast 1 Orfpe & iB6O a landslip carried away ji portion of t. h e oW fort, and the stone )ya.s. found pro* ' jecting from i!i6 i«,6e aoOui 10 feet below t]iG surface, iil This quaint figure represents a Manfj f#rypi"B jtjoft Oji!^ V^^} and child, and was eseouM aqout -ifryeaia a^o for the 'altar 'of 'the" beantifulaßoman Catholic Church at Qutma'etai, by a nativb artist at' the request of the pastor, but it was not considered sufficiently imposing and was discarded, mi^ch 'to the {.tjiafji'i^ o^' the sculptpi', })/ho I|ad e^haiia'ted'hls skill 'in ' nlakin'g 'it worthy o| an 1 eialt(jd ' posiiion' m the /village' chiiroh'. j)3'.' Soijie'fin'e riatjve' courts mado' from ivlialebODe are also' exhibitecli "' i!