RELIC OF EARLY RIVERTON

Southland Times, Issue 25680, 24 May 1945, Page 6

RELIC OF EARLY RIVERTON

OLD TIME MEDICINE CHEST A medicine chest, which at one time, belonged to Captain Howell, of Riverton, has been presented to the Southland Museum. The chest latterly belonged to Mr John Rogers, of Tauranga, who sent it to the Auckland Museum. However, the authorities of the Auckland Museum thought that the chest would be of more interest to Southland people and, accordingly, with the consent of Mr Rogers, the chest was forwarded to the Southland Museum. Captain Howell was bom at Eastbourne, England, in 1809 and died at Sydney in 1872. In 1836 Captain Howell, who was then in command of the schooner Eliza, was commissioned by Johnny Jones to establish a whaling station at Jacobs River and this venture led to the founding of Riverton. Although the chest is at least 109 years old, it is in a good state of preservation. The name of the schooner Eliza is engraved on a small brass plate. The upper part of the chest is constructed to carry 26 bottles. It now has 23 bottles but as they bear the labels of Invercargill chemists (J. B. Hayes and J. Hatch) the contents cannot be the original drugs. The lower half of the chest is furnished with a glass pestle and mortar, seven bottles' of various powders and two boxes for pills. There is a label in the lower portion with the words, “Crooke, late Rowe, Surgeon, etc., Hobart Town.” He was probably the original owner of Hie chest. OTHER ACQUISITIONS The Crimean War medal recently found in the estuary near the jetty and inscribed, “Private Martin Stagpoole 2448” has been presented to the museum by Mr A. Lawton. _ Other recent acquisitions are:—Old style typewriter said to be one of the first typewriters in Southland, presented by Miss J. Summers, of Invercargill; model of East African outrigger canoe and two fans from the Cook Islands, presented by Miss J. C. Borland, Riverton; picture of Dunedin in 1898, presented by Mrs Scott, of Yarrow street; Austrian coin of 1804, presented by Mrs Harrison, of Stewart Island; Maori paddle, presented by Mrs A. B. Moffit, of Invercargill; Maori adze found at Dipton, and presented by Master J. C. McDonald of Begg street; fem bird’s nest, wren’s nest and strangely twisted rata vine found at Otara and presented by Mr R. Latta.