MAORI IMPLEMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6713, 28 November 1889, Page 4

MAORI IMPLEMENTS.

In it 3 description oE the Maori Court, the Dunedin Star remarks : — A collection of calabashes, in which the cußtom of the Maoris ia to preserve pigeons after having been boiled in their own fat (the pigeons •we mean, not the Maoris), is an interesting exhibit; while further on we find the mouthpieces of thoao calabashes shown in a table case. In this division of tho court the walls are hung with pictures of Natives by Mra Mair and Herr Lindnuer, and trophies of Maori -weapons and carvings. Amongst this latter olass of exhibits is one which calls for more than passing mention as being of an exceptionally interesting character. This is a pigeon spear, some 30ft in length, mado of one continuous length of wood. It is a hunting weapon whose manufacture is quite out of date, although Buoh spears hare been ÜBed till quite recently in the Uriwera country. The method of construction of these weapons was bo ingenious, and at the came time so infinitely laborious, that a description of it may prove of interest aa illustrative of some of the characteristics o£ the race ■whose court thia specimen adorns. He , TTno- desired to possess^ a pigeon spear called together his sisters and his cousins his aunts, and they sallied forth into.

straight specimen of the Tawa tree (known j to the disciples of Balfour as the Nesodaphne Tawa). TMb they hewed down with an assortment of etone axes; after which gentle exercise they proceeded to drag the log to a previously prepared scene of further action. This was a level place selected within the pah, on which a bank of earth was raised some eighteen inches high and of the same width. Having brought their tree alongside this embankment they split it in half, placed one half on the bank, and trimmed it down to a flat surface. They then took out two grooves — one on each side of the fiat surface — and the spear waa the result ; and hxnr they managed to kill any with it after they had got it must be left to a future issue to explain. There are some very interesting exhibits in the New Guinea department. There are tobacco pipes some 3£t long and sin in circumference ; and a bamboo knife which has been ueed by an enterprising Papuan for decapitating Jiis enemies. The notches in the handles of these kinds of 'knives 'are said to represent the number of heads the knife has cut off, and judging from the dozen or so on this particular specimen we Bhould say that its owner had a remarkably successful career. The earns newspaper remarks of the CANTEBBOTSr COURT. Taking the court as a whole, there is little to criticise and very much to admire, and it is already assured as one of the moat attractive departments *in the building. Mr J. J. Kinsey, Commissioner, has won golden opinions from all sorfc3 of people during his stay amongst us, and deservedly holds the complete confidence of the diatricb which he represents, while in Mr F. N. Meadows he has an energetic and capable lieutenant.