NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19259, 25 August 1924, Page 8

NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB.

The last outing by members of the Naturalists’ Field Club was held at Befhuno’s Gully. There was a good attendance, the afternoon was beautifully fine, and the various sections found ample scope and an abundance of material for study. INDOOR MEETING.

At the indoor meeting Mx George Howes gave an address on “Maori Fragments,” eo-callcd because it dealt with fragments of ancient Maori materials and fragments of information gathered while in companionship with the late Augustus Hamilton and other early investigators who did excellent work in the study of tho Maori. Taking up tho shaped adze or axe of the Maori, said the lecturer, one wondered how lie found the skill and patience to produce under adverse conditions so perfect an implement. In the days whe-n these were made hurry and rush were unknown—the making of the weapon was carried out without any time limit. Tho atone need wak selected with care, and battered roughly into shape. Some flaw or peculiarity might cause a atone to be rejected, but if it shaped up all right then it was chipped and flaked into further shapliness. The cutting edge and tho smoothness were produced by grinding on sandstone with or without the addition of water. Slones were the only, available means for Hie shaping. At the Mokomoko Inlet a very fine heap of fragment® exists, showing the rite of an ancient workshop. The mouth of the Aparima and the Waimatuku were also famous places for the industry. Cutting off such stones as greenstone was done by a rubbing process using a harder serrated stone, the cutting power of which were sometimes helped with said. The making of stone implements seemed to have been largely carried out in the South Island, yet flakes of obsidian that had been brought from the North Island might • be found on our beaches. A drill was known, and this, pointed with a stone bit, the Maori used for boring holes, and understood the art of boring a succession of holes to produce. a certain shape. The formation of a bone fishhook was a good example of this The polished and smooth surface of the adzes and axes show show up in strong contrast the roughness of the butt or haft. This roughness was left purposely as a gripping surface by which the implement was attached to the wooden handle Pointed wooden implements were used but these were now rarely found, as they were liable to decay and to destruction by fire. Bone implements were often found —ifishbooks, needles, toggles, and prickers fop the extraction of shellfish, were generally made from bone. The Maori came from the warm South Sea Islands, the New Zealand climate called for warm huts and more clothin" Flax was unknown previously, but its usefulness was soon' apparent and from it the Maori wove varying quality of cloth—rrrakin" for himself mats, baskets, sails, nets, sandals, and leggings, and applying a really wonderful skill to produce intricate patterns and colour schemes. For the same purpose lie need occasionally the cabbage tree and toi toi, and dog’s hair and feathers from the birds. The sandals, made from the cabbage tree were said to last for a few days’ ojurney’ His houses be built with the door poles and ridge poles of such hardwoods as kcvvhai, and the walls of wattle, and daub, lined inside with really beautiful patterns executed with the stems of the raupo and toi-toi. He understood the ueo of pigments; mixing with bird oil the ground hematite, ochre, and other materials ho could obtain. ■ 1 To illustrate his lecture, Mr Howes brought along a very interesting collection of implements, such ns adzes, bone fish hooks, and prickers, mostly gathered by himself from various beaches of Otago and Southland, One of the most interesting features of his address was his illustration of how the Maori fashioned and shaped his tools by rubbing and boring. An adze partially executed, and tho stone implement used in tho grinding process, were exhibited. Mr Howes was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his lecture. It is well to bear in mind that the Maori is passing, and any authentic information now gathered may prove valuable as timo goes on. It is pleasing to note that a number of the leading inebers of the Field Club arc specially interested in Maori history, and a very interesting discussion followed Mr Howes’s address.

Some very interesting information was given by Mr Murray Thomson, whoee interest in collecting Maori curios baa extended over a. period of GO years. Mr Thomson also brought in a number of valuable articles. One deserving of very special note was a hei-mfttau, a beautiful piece of workmanship executed in real greenstone. The only other one known to exist is in the British Museum. The use to which it was put is unknown, but it is suggested that it was used in religious ceremonials. The next outing will be held at Morrison's Creek, and at the next indoor meeting Mr J. Crosby Smith will give an illustrated lecture on the vegetation and natural history in general of the Campbell and Auckland Islands.