MUSEUM IN THE HILLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 17

MUSEUM IN THE HILLS.

(Published by Arrangement!.

INSTITUTION AT TITIRANGI. FINE COLLECTION OF GUM. In a little dell just below the tea kiosk at Titirangi stands, a dignified small building not unlike a Greek temple. A notice near-by states that it is the "Titirangi Treasure-house.*' The name has been well chosen, for the building contains not only what is almost certainly the largest and finest existing collection of rare kauri gum, but also a great store of Maori articles, New Zealand birds, and relics of early settlement in the Auckland Province. This unique private museum has been established for the enjoyment of the public by a former resident of Dargaville. Mr. F. 0. Peat. Its contents are the fruit of more than twenty years' assiduous collecting and the expenditure of a large sum of money. Mr. Peat chose Titirangi a?, its site because of the natural beauties of the place, the largo numbers of people who visit it, and its association with his mother,, a member of the well-known Bifihop family, who was born there in the old! homestead that still stands not far from the " treasure-house." The grounds are to be planted with the widest possible variety of native trees and shrubs, forming something in the nature of a botanical museum. The building, now open to the public, is rof concrete, with a tiled roof, cream walls, and a; pillared portico. Tina architect was Mr. R. B. Hammond. Mr. Peat's kauri gum collection, consisting of several thousand specimens, occupies four cases each nearly 20ft. long and sft,. wide. The pieces were obtained from every gumfield in North Auckland. There is a full range of commercial gum varieties, from lumps to fine dust, also a number of articles made from gum, such as ornaments and carved representations of Maori heads. The whole collection is worfli, at a modest valuation, several thousand pounds. Sir, Edwin Mitchelson, who is a recognised authority and the donor of a fine collection to the Auckland . Museum, went oat recently with Mr. F. L. Gribbin to inspect it. Both stated that it was the finest they had ever seen, and in all probability the best in the world. Curios and Relics. The Maori curios are of great interest. They include a fine carved sternpost from the largest canoe used on the Marukau Harbour in the 'forties, a largo waka huia, or feather-box, carved and inlaid with paua shell; a kumete, or food-box, supported bv two human figures ; a cylindrical box made to contain food given to a, tohunga; several carved posts from houses, and a large number of mats, fishtraps, bone, greenstone and wooden meres, flutes, adstes, tomahawks,. canoe-balers and ornaments, among which are a couple of tikis. One fish hook, of copper, i 3 stated on good authority to have been made from metal obtained when Captain Cook's vessel called at Mahia for water in 1765. The most interesting of the historical relics is a half-suit of armour, consisting of a breastplate, back-plate and helmet. This was obtained by Mr, Peat, from the Webster family at Opononii. The helmet, which has a high crest and-the : remains/ of a red plume, resembles that worn by British cavalry of the early nineteenth century. It bears a brass frontal plate with the Foyal arms and the words "Waterloo" and "Peninsula." Tradition has it that the armour was given by George IV. to a Maori chief in 1820. It is - known that such a gift was made to tins famous Hingi Ilea when he visited Ttngknd, but whether this armocir belonged to him is not known at present. Mr. Peat means to make further inquiries on the subject. Natuira! History Specimens. Another irelic is a grandfather clock which was brought to the Northern Wai* roa district in 1837" by Mr. McGregor McGregor. It is ISO or 200 years old and keeps excellent time. There are also two pictures rescued from the sack of Kororaeka, cannon shot, watches, .joins, books and much more. The natural history collection includes stuffed and mounted specimens of the huia, tui, pigeon, parakeet, kakapo, longtailed cuckoo, shining cuckoo, kaka, bellbird, saddleback, blue-mottled crow, weka, bittern, and many other native birds, There are rare sea,shells, including tin; paper nautilus, and a fine exhibit of the large nativet snail found in kauri forests. Round tile walls of the hall are many photographs and prints of early New Zealand scenes and people. Altogether the museum is a fine example oit energy and perseverance on the part of its owner. It will add greatly to the attractions of Titirangi, aufd is surely destined to be fine of the chief centres of tourist attraction in Auckland's environs.