VALUABLE MAORI CURIOS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 3

VALUABLE MAORI CURIOS.

<a» DONATIONS TO MUSEUM. AUCTIONEERS" GIFT.

Two very inter* ting additions to the Maori collection ii the Auckland Museum have bten received by the curator, Mr. T. F. Cheeseman. Mr. John Kenderdine has presented an el a bo-a carved "ipu," or box used for holding preserved birds or other articles of food, and an " oko," or bowl used for serving np human flesh or other food at a feast. Both are really fine examples of ancient Maori carving, and form a welcome addition to the museum. They were detected by Mr. Kenderdine in a dusty corner of an obscure curio shop in Sydney, and were purchased by him for presentation to the museum.

The other addition is a remarkably fine greenstone tiki, much larger than any specimen previously existing in the museum. According to Maori accounts, it was taken by some of Plongi's warriors from the body of a fallen enemy during one of Hongi's numerous raids into the southern portion of the Auckland Provincial district, between he years 1820 and 1827. It was given by Hongi to one of his relatives, from whose descendants it was ultimately acquired by a European. Recently, the Auckland Auctioneers' Association was disbanded, in consequence of the formation of the Lu,nd Agents and Auctioneers' Association, ard as there was a surplus of £10 to the credit of the former body, it was decided, at the suggestion of the president, Mr. H. E. Vaile, that the sum should be applied towards the purchase of some addition to the Maori collection, and the tiki was ultimately selected for the purpose.