A “ TREASURE HOUSE.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19968, 9 December 1926, Page 13

A “ TREASURE HOUSE.”

RARE* KAURI GUM .COLLECTION. GENEROUS GIFT TO AUCKLAND. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND. December 8. 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 setltemcnt in the Auckland province. This unique private museum lias been established for the gratuitous enjoyment of the public by a resident of Dargavil’e Mr F. 0. Peat.' v Its contents are the fruit of more than 20 years assiduous collecting and the expenditure of a largo sum of money Above the entrance is a grotesque mask m the Maori style, and immediately within the front door there is a panelled screen made up of magnificent specimens of figured and mottled kauri. The interior consists ot a hall 60ft long and 25ft in width. Mr Peat’s kauri gum collection, consisting of several thousand specimens, occupies four huge cases, each nearly 20ft lone and sft wide. The pieces were obtained from every gumfield in rth Auckland, and include all imaginable varieties. Sir Edwin Mitclielsotr who is a recognised authority and the donor of a fine collection to the Auckland museum went out with Mr F. L. Grihbin to inspect it. Both stated that it was the fihest they had ever seen, and in all probabiliy the best in the world. Mr Peat, was asked by the Government to send his collection to the Exhibition at Dunedin, and it, was also suggested at one time that he should a'low it| tn he shown in the New Zealand building at Wembley but he declined to let it out of his own keeping having had some experience of loss and damage. The Maori enrious are also of groat interest.