NEW EXHIBITS AT MUSEUM

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1933, Page 6

NEW EXHIBITS AT MUSEUM

FINELY WORKED MAORI TOOLS. DISCOVERIES AT BELL BLOCK. A very fine addition to the present collection of Maori tools on view at the New Plymouth museum has been made by the arrangement for display of implements found by Mr. T. H. Western at Puketapu, Bell Block. There are five small adzes of greenstone, varied in size but without exception marvellously finished and shaped, and three flint adzes no less perfect. The collection includes a fine greenstone pendant and two tiny, delicate chisels. Arranged in the same case are three pumice pots found by Mr. Western, which were used by the Maoris for holding tattoo powders, fishing baits and similar articles. The pots are grooved to enable them to be tied with flax. Found in the Huatoki Valley, a large pounder of common grey stone is included. It has a carved head and is of a type peculiar to Taranaki. Two stone hammers and a net sinker, not so finely done as the other exhibits, complete Mr. Western’s section, while the final piece in the display is a delicate stone-cutter, presented by Mr. H. D. Skinner, assistant curator of the Otago University museum and lecturer in anthropology'at the university. In addition to the new case on display the collection of adze handles and stones and of meres have been rearranged to give the exhibits a geographical aspect. The Taranaki meres form a very good section now and the re-arrangement has been a success.

The tikis have been arranged sincerely and the museum improved thereby.