DONATIONS TO MUSEUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16560, 8 June 1917, Page 6

DONATIONS TO MUSEUM.

HISTORIC MAORI RELICS. The Japanese exhibit at the Auckland Museum has recently been enlarged by a collection of handsome Satsuma and Kiotu porcelain, donated by Mr. H. Shaw, the arrangement of which has just been completed. There are some 50 articles in the collection, which also contains some bronzes and specimens of Cloisonne ware. With the many other Japanese articles donated by Mr. Shaw, this section of the museum is now one of considerable interest and value. The work of rearranging the exhibit of Maori musical instruments has now been completed. This collection, consisting of wood, bone and stone flutes and other instruments, contains several very rare and valuable specimens, notablyj the original bone flute used by Tutanakei, and the ancient shell trumpet of Tu Wharetoa, progenitor of the .natives of the iaupo district. The story of this trumpet has only just been made known to tho curator, and is one of unusual interest. The trumpet was so highly prized, that it was only allowed to be sounded when a direct heir to the chieftainship of the tribe was born. It was handed down from one chief to another, and finally came into the possession of the celebrated chief Te Heu Heu. When he and his people were buried in the great landslide at Te Rapa, near Lake Taupo, in 1846. the trumpet was lost, but was recovered later on, and in 1875 was presented by the natives to Captain Mair, who, with Major Scannell, had presided over a Native Land Court, held in the district. The curio was subsequently purchased from Captain Mair by tho museum authorities. / Another interesting relic is an unusually handsome taiaha, or short spear, which forms part of the Northcroft collection recently presented. This spear, the history of which is known for 100 years back, was last used in the battle fought by the Ngapuhi6 against the natives in the northern portion of Cape Colville. The collection contains other beautifully carved and decorated specimens, and its interest is increased by the recent acquisition of a series of photographs, taken expressly for the museum by Mr. G. Phillips, showing natives brandishing the spears in the proper attitudes of attack and defence.