SMOKED MAORI HEADS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 285, 5 November 1925, Page 10

SMOKED MAORI HEADS.

THE ROBLEY COLLECTION. LONDON, Nov. 17. There came up for sale at Stevens’ auction rooms this week 'an article which recalls the’ time when General H. G. Robley was trying to induce the New Zealand Government to buy his collection of smoked Maori heads. This was an enlarged photograph of the famous collection, showing about 50 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 other personal belongings. General lloblev’s offer was refused by the New Zealand Government, which evidently was not interested in the remarkable collection. Maoris who visited England for the Queen Victoria jubilee and for the coronation viewed the collection, and all of them expressed the wish that the heads should bo eared for in New Zealand, and not handled by strangers and women. However, in the end they were sold to America, and probably the finest and largest collection of Maori heads is now housed in the Natural History Museum, New York. The photograph sold in London this week created considerable interest among dealers and it was disposed of for £7 10s. The proprietors of the auction room are now making a search for the negative. If the photograph brought £7 10s, they ask, what will the negative be worth ?,