CAPTAIN COOK RELICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 86

CAPTAIN COOK RELICS.

HANDSOME GIFT TO NEW ZEALAND. LORD ST. OSWALD'S GENEROSITY. (From Odb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, February 7. It is scarcely possible to estimate the value of the gift of South Sea relics which has become the property of the Dominion of New Zealand through the generosity of Lord St. Oswald. Many of them are definitely associated with the great navigator Cook, while others, though not so identified, were obtained from the South Seas by other navigators of the same period, and consequently have a value of their own. From New Zealand there are several valuables meres, tewha tewha, and patupatu, tikis, and feather mats. The relics came into posseesion of the family of Lord St. Oswald at a sale at the Egyptian Hall .in 1819, and have never since been out of custody at Nostell Priory, near Wakefield. Some of a similar description which have been secured at different time 9 for museume in America are very highly prized and zealously guarded there. Those in JMew Zealand who arc interested in these historical matters will regret once more that the Dominion does not possess a safe and properly-constructed depository for the exhibition and custody of such relics. To my knowledge there are manuscripts in England which might be obtained for the Dominion if the present owners were only satisfied that New Zealand had the means of looking after them. The new gift has not yet been properly classified, But it is known to include roughly the following articles : The feather cloak and helmet which are described in Captain Cook's journal as having been presented to him by the chief Terreeoboo, at the Sandwich Islands shortly before his death. Terreeoboo himself threw the cloak over Cook and placed the helmet on his head, the natives at that time regardkig the navigator almost in the light of a god, and calling him "Orono." The cloak is made of the feathers of an extinct bird, and is very valuable. There is another cloak of similar feathers. Then there is the dress of the chief moruner at Otaheite (Taihti), made of mother of pearl and the feathers of the tropic bird; another helmet and feather cloak from Otaheite; and a military gorget worn by warriors in the same group. The collection includes also : Bone and stone merea and patupatus and a hatchet from New Zealand; two wooden patupatus, three fishhooks and two axes, African musical instruments called balafou, a fine feather idol from the Sandwich Islands, a pair of bracelets of boar's teeth, a cloak made of the feathers of the powhee, bordered with red and yellow, a feather hat, Captain Cook's fly flicker, the handle being made of the arm bone of a chief taken in war, a stone-head'Oil war-club and an idol, two nose-flutes from the Sandwich Islands, carved patupatu, many war clubs, two fine heitikis from New Zealand and an ornamental knife edged with shark's teeth, African horn and two fans, flax mats and pouches, a green embroidered horse cloth, the bone of a swordfish, mother of pearl waistcloth, Fijian shoes and gloves, flint and bone instruments, etc. It is expected that the collection, carefully packed, will be shipped to New Zealand in a week or two.