COLLECTION OF MAORI CURIOS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11975, 26 May 1902, Page 7

COLLECTION OF MAORI CURIOS.

'■■' : ' DEPUTATION TO THE NATIVE MINISTER. A deputation' waited on the Hon. J. Car.l Native Minister, at the Government Buildings, on Saturday morning, in reference to «- ne Maori carvings lately found in the Hokianga district, and also generally •in respect to the native collection now at ■Auckland. The following gentlemen were present:— Roberton (president of the Auckland Institute), Mr. Cheeseman (curator), Mr. A. Kidd (Mayor), Mr. Jennings, JI.L.C Mr. Lawry, M.H.R., Mr. Fowlds, M H.R-, Professor Brown, Professor Seager, Dr.' Swale, Messrs. Upton, Berry, Leys, Haines, Fond, J. Stewart, P. E. Cheal. Mr. Fowlds said that the deputation consisted of members of the council of the Auckland Institute and of a number of citizens who sympathised with the object. A find of Maori articles of considerable interest had recently been made in the North, and they wished to express their 1 hanky to the Government for tno prompt attention which had been given to the matter. It was understood that it had been decided that these objects should be handed over to the institute when the native claims which had been raised had been settled. There was mother subject, however, which he would refer to. It had been decided that there should be a national collection, in which were to he gathered objects of interest connected with the native race. Now. the council of the Auckland Institute had expended a large sum of money in forming a representative collection of Maori art, and quite lately £1000 had been collected from the public of Auckland to purchase the collection got together by Captain Mair. If a national collection Mere to be formed, he thought that the efforts which the people of Auckland had made, and the result of these efforts, should not be overlooked. Dr. Roberton said that on applying to the Land Department in respect to" the articles found in the North, they found that claims to them had been made by certain natives. He asked that the Native Minister should use his good office to facilitate the transfer of these articles to the custody of the Museum. The Government and Mr. Carroll himself had shown a great interest in reference to a collection of articles representing Maori art, customs, and habits, and therefore he was quite sure the Auckland Museum and the people of Auckland had his sympathy in what they had done. The Auckland Museum, however, had no stick endowments as had been given to museums in the South. The council had devoted to the purpose of making a collection ail the funds they possibly could spare, and had indeed hampered the finance of the institute for this purpose, recognising that as time went on it would be more difficult to obtain articles. He considered, indeed, that the colony owed a debt of gratitude to Auckland "for what it had done. The £1000 which had been gathered in a short time in Auckland for the purchase of the Mair collection, showed the interest taken in this matter by the citizens generally. The Mayor pointed out that Auckland was the centre of the largest Maori population, and should be the place where a collection could be seen, showing the history of the race, and all matters connected with them. The sum which had lately been collected also manifested the deep interest taken in this matter by the citizens. The Native Minister said he had listened with deep interest to what had been stated, as it related to matters in which he felt ever) - sympathy. He could scarcely express too strongly his gratitude to the people of Auckland for the efforts they had made to form a complete collection of native relics and works of art. It was true that Parliament had passed an Act last session for the purpose of establishing a National Museum as a kind of repository of native articles. There were many such articles in different parts of the colony and in private collections, and his idea was that there should be a National Museum where these might be deposited. A National Museum would offer inducements which otherwise would not be in existence. He had no wish to clash with the people of Auckland, who rather deserved every credit and every encouragement, and he would be very loth to put Auckland in a subordinate position. . There was indeed no probability that such, a museum would be ejected in the near future, and probably it would be some years before they could do anything in that direction. There might be some difficulty in selecting a place, which might be Auckland or Wellington. In the meantime the collection of relics could go on without any hindrance. In reference to the Maori articles recently discovered at Hokianga, he had found that the natives had made a claim to them, which it was only fair to look into. He had communicated with the Stipendiary Magistrate for the district, who had got the natives together. His (Mr. Carroll's) instructions were that when they had proved their claims "he expected that they would hand them over to him on behalf of the Auckland Institute. The provisions of the National Museum Act of last session he felt he could hardly exercise. After considerable trouble the natives had agreed to the course he had recommended, and they would be handed over to the Auckland Museum.

Dr. Roberton said that the council of the institute were anxious to extend the accommodation by erecting another building, and asked if the Government would not assist by a subsidy, as they had done in some other cases.

Mr. Carroll said the Auckland members (of whom he was; one) might lay that subject before the Colonial Secretary.

Mr. Fowlds referred to the collection in the possession of Colonel Robley, in London, and said he understood it had been offered to the Government.

V Mr. Carroll said the Cabinet did not consider that it should be purchased. It consisted mainly of preserved heads, and it was thought to be too gruesome. Mr. Hamilton, who took a great interest in all subjects of Maori art, was paying a visit to the Old Country, and be was to see if he could recover any objects of value to be obtained there.

-Mr. Lawry referred to the large landed endowments which had been secured to the museums of Otago and Canterbury, and asked if Auckland could not be put in somewhat the same position. .Mr. Carroll said these institutions had Made hay when the sun shone. Mr. Lawry: We had no hay to make. Mr. Cheal suggested that the Native Minister might use bis influence with the natives to get them to give articles of curiosity to the institute where they would he preserved. The Mayor and Dr. Roberton then thanked the Native Minister for the manner in Which he had received the deputation.