MAORI CURIOS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18378, 21 April 1934, Page 15

MAORI CURIOS

GIFTS TO AUCKLAND MUSEUM ARTICLES FROM POVERTY |; BAY i Two important additions to the ethnological section of the Auckland War Memorial Museum were reported at the meeting of the council. One collection of valuable Maori curios has been given as an addition to the Vaile collection, and the other is a collection of 2000 items from an area in Northern Melanesia, anonymously given by a prominent citizen. The outstanding! exhibit in the addition to the Vaile collection is a smoked tattooed. Maori head, which was taken to England in the pioneer days, but returned some 30 years ago. Other objects of importance included in this gift are some very fine specimens of Maori carving and greenstone work, among them being a beautiful lieitiki from WairOa, a tiki of solid design from North Auckland, an exceptionally long, curved greenstone pendant and several elaborately-carved bone combs showing human tigures and the typical Maori spirals. 'An'unusual flute or koauau, made from a human leg bone, and with two figures carved on it. is a, father giriin exhibit. The only known perfect stone foot-rest for a spade or ko is also among the'treasures. A ridgepole carving or double-headed tekoteko. from Poverty Hay, is an exceptionally fine example of Maori craft. There are many oilier articles of value and interest in the collection, which includes adzes, bird snares, digging sticks, canoe paddles, eel killers, a rare canoe baler carved from whalebone, a frag 1 mei.it of a canoe prow, a flax mussel dredge and wooden bird spears. One ’of the adzes or wedges is carved with spirals and unusual marks on the butt, j. an.l it is believed that they may be the mark of the craftsman who executed several such arjaelep in tlnj Poverty Bay district. A very fine long greenstone eliisel was used for delicate carving or adziilg. iti ~ ■ j