Valuable Gifts.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XXV, 22 June 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

Valuable Gifts.

Every one was astonished to see the way in which the Maori people divested themselves of their choicest possessions in the way of heirlooms aud treasured native garments to lay at the feet of Royalty, The gifts totalled hundreds of pounds in value. The Wanganui aud Ngatikahungunu tribes were especially liberal in their presentations. Victoria Kemp (Taitokn) and her people gave some beautiful mats, besides greenstone weapons and ornaments They have also given te the Duchess all the waist-mats (piu-piu) that they wore when dancing. These garments were left at the camp, and will be sent on after the Ophir. Every dancer iu tbe Wanganui and allied tribes gave his piu-pin as a gift to the Duke. The venerable Major Fox's gift to His Royal Highness was an especially valuable family treasure—a “tokihohoupu,” or short-handled greenstone adze, ornamented with tbe long hair of the long-since extinct Maori dog. It is a family heirloom from the very old days of Maoriland. All the kiwi mats were very valuable ones. Some of the other mats were rather too European in style, being, in fact, made specially for presenta--1 ion.

Te Hira. the leading chief of Taupo, presented a greenstone mere on behalf of the Tuhourangi tribe, ami Mr Arthur Warbrick placed on Het Royal Highness* ehair on the

pavilion a pure white native koaowai. a kind of Bit. Three whalebone two-handed awordu (boosoa), very rare and valuable weapons, were among the gifts, besides six or seven greenstone clubs (mere), aud mats, kits, and ornaments in great profusion.