GIFTS TO MUSEUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 12

GIFTS TO MUSEUM.

RARE MAORI ARTICLES.

WAR NOTES AND POSTERS.

Further intending and valuable gifts have recently been received by the Auckland Museum. In the. Maori section two historic greenstone meres from the Northern Wairoa district have been presented. The first, which was formerly the property of a Ngapuhi chief, Tirarau Kukupa, of Northern Wairoa, has been given by Mrs. R. Wilson, of Remuera, and the other, of Tangiwai greenstone, and bearing the personal name Parore te Awha, has been presented by Mr. Edwin Parore Mitchelson. Another gift is a rare carved bone noso-flule from Kawakawa. This is from Mr. A. Armstrong. Much interest will doubtless be taken in the fine series of war posters which has'been presented by Major G. R. Hutchinson. These were collected by Major Hiltchinson in France and the East. Major Hutchinson has also presented a series of war trophies, maps and documents. - •

Another aspect of the war wjiich will be"''illustrated is the depression of currency in ex enemy countries. These are illustrated by a series of currency notes presented by Mr. H. Kirschenbauni, of Florida. It is interesting to comparo some pre-war 1000-kronen and 1000mark • Austrian ~ ' and German notes with post-war 10,000-mark and 1,000,000inark notes. The earlier notes are especially notable for beautiful design • and engraving, and in addition a 200-rouble Russian note has a portrait water-mark. A post-war German 10,000mark note exhibits a good design typical of Republican Germany, but the engraving and paper are of poorer quality. Tho note of tho highest denomination is altogether tho poorest production, having been printed in the ordinary way on quite ordinary paper. Mr. Kirschenbaum's gift makes an interesting commentary on tho war financo of the Central Powers.

The natural history section has gained by tho gift of a rare fossil trilobite, i» primitive form of crustacean, and two lamp .shells from an early fossil "horizon," presented by Mr F. C. Rolletfc.