MAORI TROPHIES

Southland Times, Issue 22070, 18 July 1933, Page 8

MAORI TROPHIES

OFFER TO MUSEUM COLLECTION FOR AUCKLAND GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S CUP (Per United Press Association.) Rotorua, July 17 A suggestion has been made by Mr H. Tai Mitchell on behalf of the Arawa tribe that the Ahuawhenua or Son of the Soil Cup, recently presented by the Governor-General for the encouragement of farming under native land development schemes and which was won the first time by William Swinton. of Ruatoki, be lodged in a section of the Auckland museum owing to the fact that the action of thermal fumes and the atmosphere of Rotorua has a tarnishing effect upon silverwork and it is considered the cup will be better preserved in the museum. Mr Mitchell also suggested that “Onewa Patu” which was presented by the federation of the Ngapuhi tribes t , the Arawas as a mark of the extinguishing of the • slumbering embers of enmity caused by inter-tribal wars between the two peoples, should also be displayed with the cup. This patu was presented to the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata during a visit to the North Auckland district in May last, by Henere Kingi, Chief of the Ngati Kahu, and was conveyed by Sir Apirana Ngata, together with the Ngapuhi peace overtures, to a large gathering of Arawa hapus held recently at Ohinemutu when the Governor also presented the Ahuwhenua Cup, together with the Ahuawhenua trophy and Onewa patu. Mr Mitchell ’ also suggested that a valuable greenstone mere and a Maori head, modelled to life size in kauri gum which were recently acquired in London and which are Arawa tribal heirlooms, should be also lodged in the museum.

Appreciation and approval of the offer has been conveyed by the museum authorities and the trophies and heirlooms will accordingly be lodged in the museum by Mr Mitchell.

In the course of his letter to the museum, Mr Mitchell said: “May we suggest that this Onewa patu be placed alongside the Ahuawhenua trophy because we feel that the remarkable interest taken by their Excellencies in all matters appertaining to the welfare of the Maori and his history undoubtedly inspired to a very large' degree the Ngapuhi gesture which produced the patu as a symbol of that inspiration.”