The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1901. A HUGH REEDED RESTRICTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10342, 18 May 1901, Page 2

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1901. A HUGH REEDED RESTRICTION.

Ebb it is too late it is^to bo hoped that tho Legislature will pass an Act forbidding the traffic in Maori works of art", and their exportation; as otherwise the time is not far distant when

it will be necessary for Macaulay's New Zcalandor to vjsit Europe if ho wants to sco and admire the handiwork of the ancient Maori carvers and makers of ornately and grotesquely decorated weapons, mats, and other things, of which tho latter-day arrivals in ...the colony know, nothing and care less. But it is bad policy on the part of the Government to allow this continuous depletion of Maori works of art to go on unchecked, especially in view of the fact that the greatest number of such interesting objects find their way into tho hands of Government omployes, whose knowledge of Maori history enables them to aclcct the most valuable specimens, whilst their official position gives them greater opportunities and facilities for acquiring them than falls to the lot of the ordinary collector. That tho Legislature of New Zealand would bo warranted in putting a stop to this trade in Maori .works of art and intorest is certain, as Italy had to do something of tho same kind in order to prevent Rome from being denuded Of the works of the Old Masters' and other objects of historical and religious interest, which were among the chief Attractions for visitors. If. these Interciting works had been allowed to be acquired by strangers and . ?moved from the Holy City, tho stream of yititor* from Whteb Rpme derives a perennially increasing revenue wpuld havo dwindled seriously, and the inhabitants suffered cprrosppndiugly. It was only the other, day that the -Italian Government forcibly prevented the rc>moval of a celebrated picture from Rome, which a French collector had purchased from its, possessor at a high rr/ef.. Tho Stkto was quite willing to p»jr tfe* lsit-£{ /<» it, and add it to the national collection ; , tijjj JH w ? allca 11c1 v'u '* c firm in its . determination to allow tho picture to leave Rome. '

If the Government of New Zealand were alive to the importance of the subject it would at once take steps to prevent any further exportation of historic Maori works of art or interest, as ,t\icir retention in the colony is im-

perutive if tonrii>ts"are to bo attracted to it, and allowed to inspect the work ■of the Old Masters ,of Maori art, which in its grotesque symbology , is a valuable record of ; ancient , Maori* history, perfectly intelligil&e J like^theNative Minister, Licut.-Col. Gudgeon, E. Tregear, the brothers Mair, and othnologicnl, genealogical, and historical grotesquely-carved, records like print. To allow them to to be snapped up by curio-hunters ■• and-; taken out ■of the country is a very short-Bighted policy, and one which we hope will be speedily put a stop to for ever. ■ As it is, some invaluable works of tho kind have been exported, and it is only a question of time, if a stop is not quickly put to the traffic, when the last piece of such valuable ancient Maori handiwork will have left our shores, and the colony have nothing to Show .but a few drawings or photographs of its lost Maori treasures. We commend this, subjeot to the Premier's early and earnest consideration, as it is certain the evil we have alluded to is s growing 1 one, as also that it is highly calculated to lessen the tide of tourists flowing into the colony, many of whom would, ,if deprived of the opportunity of inspecting and examining its Maori works of art aud interest, .either omit to visit New Zealand or at best spend but a day or so in its chief centres of population so aa to examine the contents of their none-too-well-filled or arranged museums, which, with few exceptions, ate notably deficient in historic Maori collections. Our Wanganui Muceum is an exception, and visitors never tire of examining " the interesting display of such invaluable records of ancient art i and history.

' - To the Natives themselves we would say: "Refuse to part with your heirlooms to mercenary, curio-hunters, no matter who they be; bnt, on the contrary, treasure them' as something too sacred to be bartered or sold." ,If safe keeping is. desired the museums of tho colony would be only too delighted to accept the custody of such invaluable treasures on loan, and .would take every precaution to protect t them against destruction by fire, which is their chief danger whilst in the care of their native owners. The vandalism that goes ! on in the way of Maori carvings of j great antiquity and value being divided i up by the aid of a saw or a. tomahawk for tho convenience of carriage, or 'the increase of price, is simply astounding, a3 even graves are not respected in some instances by collectors of native' carvings, one' ot whom got three months in gaol for helping 1 himself' to 'some near 'Rotorua some years back, under the impreision that he could do so without being called to account for such an act of sacriligious vandalism. As the Government was able to suppress the trade in "cured" Maori heads in the early days of the' colony's history, when a great' trade was driven in. smoked and cured tatooed Maori heads to supply European museums , »nd private collections with such gruesome ethnological specimens, there is . no reason to doubt its ability to put a stop to the export of ancient works of Maori art, of which the colony at present is fast being stripped.

On our firg^page will be found the annual report of the Wanganui Highland Rifles; also other reading matter. Mr Andrew Carnegie has given a hundred thousand pounds to establish libraries in Glasgow. Tho, Hon. J. Carroll's visit to Gisbonfe has -beau delayed owing to a sevens cold and eoro throat. Thero will be at least seven British warships in Auskland Harbour on the occasion of the Duke of Yorke'a visit. There are 83,013 dairy cows and heifers in the T&ranalri district. In Hawke's Bay there are about 29,000. Tho South African Alliance, at Johannesbarg, object to bringing the whole liquor trade under public control, and eliminating private interest. The Josephine Stanton Comic Opera Company, a. well-known American combination, will arrive by the next mail boat, and open in Auckland on May 21st. Speaking at the Mayoral banquet at Aohburton, Mr Hugo Friedlandcr eaid bis .firm had recoived the largest order for oats ever given by the English. War Office, the value of the shipment^ when completed, being .£140,000. The report of Mr Mestaycr in connection with Gisborne's proposed water supply scheme will, the P.B. Herald says, recommend an expenditure of about JESO,QOO. The scheme will provido for a supply for about 12,000 persons. The barque indes, bound from Rockingham, Westrnlin, to London, with a cargo of timber, was abandoned, dismasted, off Fish Point, Cape Colony. A transport picked up the crew and landed them at Port Elizabeth. One was drowned. A contemporary, looking into the population rtatistics, was surprised to find that at the census of 1896 more than "half the prpplo in New Zealand were, adnlts. th« proportion being 51 per cont. In no country in Europe, except France, is the proportion anything like n» much. Perhaps the explanation is that the average age here is higher., Pcoplo live longer, and therefore the adults accumulate.' Corporal Itecs, of Gisborne, relates an amusing incident that occurred in South Africa-. Some objects were seen on a bill that were supposed to be Boors, and a party were detailed to surround the hill and effect their capture. A cordon was made, and the Tommies, with several New Zoalanders, crept up tho hill. When they got within close range, it was discovered that the enemy consisted of baboons. This, says one of Iho corporals, is what you call "gorilla" warfare. Tho Castlooliff road is now approaching' completion, and will be out of the hands of the contractors in about a \vcrk> time. In the meantime, the employees of <ho Wanganui Meat Freezing Company aro planting sand grass on the slopes abutting on the proporty, but tliii excellent work is likely to be nullified by the trampling down of the Young grans by the cattlo and sheep having access to that portion of the rood unless the Waitotara. County Council cany out, os arranged, the fencing us a protective measure. To allow the roott thus newly formed to remain without planting means that in a short space of time a great deal of the work will have to be done' over again, so that the fencing . abovo referred to is an absolute necessity. It might also bo added {that if the powers, that be had jthe road rplled, this would materially assisj) in hardening the face, 1 and tnorcby c.ounfpract, or at any rate minimise, 'sand npcuinulations on the surface. The completion of tho Castlecliff road will be a. decided 1 boon not only to tho residents, but will also add • to tho convenience of those who may wish to pay a visit by that 1 - means to our popular seaside resort.

A disclaimer appears in another t column. * '• Telegraphic^ communication North and South, w"as {interrupted to^ay -through some of. the Una* being blown down._ r '"*| "-. , ' ,;_■' ' Captain "Edwin, wirifl. this afternoon: t-West to southwest anS' south gale; : sea heavy; tideß^ high; 'weather much colder. „ been, abandoned of the brigafitine-£fflaaWeber;eight Greeks put fro.-n Gisbprngt .to Ngunguru, in ballast. She wa» last heard of , off the East "Cape on April 23rd. 'She was owned by Captain,, D. Shaw, o£jtuckland, and.ins, sured for .£3OO. In the pockets of fin seaman arrested for drunkenness in Castlereagh Street, Sydney, last ..week, the sum of .£ll6 11s 2d was* found;' *■ Of ,'this' ,.£ll6 was in gold, the 'money boirfg carried loosely in an outer pocket.? In addition, a valuable gold watch, a diamond ring, and a set of richly-gemmed studs were found .on the prisoner. •>« sr"^ ' ' J "f • The first casetjf arrest "being jnade in Australia of tie -.father 6f an illigitimato'child on the' charge of absconding ~from New Zealandjjtgok place in Syd- j nay last week,;, under Tan arrangement recently mode .tiy tj» Premier with tho Society for the Projliefction of Women and Children. A constable left Wei- , lington on Saturday to, bring back the accused. ] Sir James Hactor.'in the course of a i lecture on "Comets," said the comet now visible was at least 100.000,000 miles distant from the earth, and was travelling at 'the rate of- 640 "miles, a second. As to the composition of comets, Sir ' James, thought that the recent discoveries of Roentgen, Hertz, and Tesla would enable astronomers to gain a much more accurate knowledge.

Tho cylinders in vogue amongst duckshooters are not looked on- with much favour by any save -those who use them. At the Qhristchurch Acclimatisation Society meeting, Mr Haydonsaid he knew ' of 500 1 ducks beintr slaughtered by five men, and the president agreed with his desire to see the cylinder* abolished. One member mournfully said he had known of 500 men' capturing five ducks. '.On receipt of the cable'' that the Marylebone Club abandoned sending I 'a team to Australia, thevCommittee of the Melbourne Cricket Cluo decided to take the responsibility of bringing out a team this year, a,nd v communications have been opened up" with A. C. McLaren. The convnittee are positive that they will nave no difficulty, in getting, a team with McLaren as captain; they guaranteeing the financial part. of the,business. . • i With regard to tJte recent fire at Greymouth, it was Mr J. Howan, lately, of tho firm of Walsh and Howan, who perished in the names. It appears Mr Howan left-Foxton by the *.».■ Moa on a holiday trip to G-reymouth. last Wednesday week, and was staying at Ashton's Hotel there- until tho return, of the boat from Wanganui when he intended coming back. -The deceased was much respected, and 'ha&"> many friends who will all 'regret, to hear of his sad end. Last week »', ' school 'teacher named Dolanei was found lying unconscious with his head on a large stono under a' railway bridge at Inglewood. Tho man was cycling down the line and had essayod to ride across the railway bridge on a couple of six-inch planks. About tho middle of the bridge his foolishness brought him to grief,, and he was precipitated a distance of twenty feet. A broken leg, two broken ribs, and sundry minor injuries will probably deter him from attempting similar feats in the future.

The position* with regard to the equipment of "Calliope Dock for naval repair;? is. anything but satisfactory (says the Auckland Star). There appears to be a disinclination on the part of tho Harbour Board to face the quesUon oquaroly.. The report of the Board's 'Engineer, < showing that the ■work of- ttrdctiribr sheer legs and. providing a wharf with '33 feet of water at low tides would cost more than £50,000 in excess" of tho estimates agreed to by tho Admiralty, was, sent into the offices on December Five months have elapsed, and practically nothing has been done' to advance the position. The unfortunate muddling of the business ha* to tiß.faced'l and the absurdity of temporising is self-evident. 7&X 3,. C. *y?\\lia.iaer>iL'* Italian Opera Company will -visit New. Zwland in. Dec'ombor noxt,' commencing at Auckland.. The list' of artistes in this organisation includes Madame Do Vere Sapio, who mado a successful tour -.of Australia some yean since and Signer Fravaglini, cno time a member of the Suttica Company. Thero will be in all four principal sopranos, two contraltos, four tenors, led by Signor Larina, of great reputation in his own country; three basses, and three baritones, in addition to a number of leaders for the chorus of 48 voices. The orchestra will consist of 41 instrumentduts, under Signor Hazon. The dres*es and other properties havo been imported 'from Milan. The company is due to open in Melbourne, at Her Majesty's Theatre; on June Ist.

Our country readers will be interested in a simple, and economical method of ascertaining the butter contents of milk. Mr> McGregor, Government Dairy Expert, exhibiting recently at an A. and P. Aflßftciation gathering-, took an ounce of milk and placed it in a bottle containing one-third of an ounce of Coutt's acetic acid, and for ten minutes or so shook the bottle. At the cud of that period 'the butter in tho milk had become separated, and was weighed, and was found .to be 16 grains. This nrpcess was gone through with a simi-, lar '.mount of the same milk, and the tame result was again arrived at. By a simple arithmetical calculation it was Rhown thut tho milk tested went over 3Ub of butter to every 1001 bof milk. Tho utensils and the acid arc not expensive, tho most costly portion of the outfit baintr the scales, which represent IV vnluo of 10*. i

Tha competition for the five-man competition for medals presented by a well-known supporter of the Wauganui Volunteer Fire Brigade caused keen contests last evening, and the following were the results: — No. 1: Sims (foreman), C. HftlHoran. F. Reynolds. E. Townsend. and R. Benuchamp. '< Time, «"> «fi. No. 2: J. Price (foreman), J. Pnraell. P- Mownt. •C. Lentherlands, and F. Loftus. Time, 62 fl-sth sec, ineludine 2 sec. penalty- No. 3: B. R. Price (foreman), T. Copelond, G. Sherman, W. and E. Perrett. Time 61 2-sth sec. No. 4: A. HalHgan (foreman). A." Ttobb. W. Sharpe; H. Thurlow, and J. Johnston. Time. 60 l-sth sec. No. 4 team thus won tUo medals. Cantain Holland and Fireman Holmrs (Ensttown) -acted as judges, and Mr Leonard officiated as starter, and the time-kecp-ors wore Messrs Thompson and D. Chanman. The competition was managed by Secretary Copoland, who is to bo complimented on his work.

Tho Now Plymouth Harbour Board meeting, yesterday, was very exciting at times. * There was more tVisn one conflict over the chairman's ruling. A most unusual incident occurred. One of the members, unknown to the others, locked tho Board-room door. This was tho out:ome of tho last meeting, whon his motion with reforeiico to tho apnnintnient of ' Government nominee* lapsed for want of a quorum, the" three Government memhew havine retired before tho motion Wrtß put. There was a great confnuioii and uproar whon the door was discovered to be locked, and attention was palled to the illeealitv of the proceedings. Eventually the door was opened from the other sido by another key. Whon the chairman put the motion several members were standing and loudly talking. At the same time no opportunity was given for an amendment. No vote was actually taken, but tho chairman declared the motion carried, and vacated the chair. Tho meeting* ended in confusion.

A Village Blacksmith Saved His Little Son's Life— ; Mr H. H. Black, the well-known village blacksmith at Grahamsville, Sullivan Go., N.Y., says:— "Our little son, fivo years old, has al-' ways been subject to croup, and so bad have the attacks been that we have feared many times that ho would die. We have had the doctor and used many medicines, but Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is now our sole reliance. It seems to dissolve the tough mucus, and by glsiing frequent doses when the croupy symptoms' appear we nave found that the dreaded croup is cured before it gets settled." There is no danger in giving this remedy, for it contains no opium or other injurious drug, and may be given as confidently to a babe as to an adult. For sale by United Farmers' Co-op. Amu,