MAORI HEIRLOOMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 230, 28 September 1928, Page 9

MAORI HEIRLOOMS.

PRESENTED TO MUSEUM.

VISIT TO NGARUAWAHIA.

GIFTS OF PRINCESS TE PUEA.

Three valuable historic Maori heirlooms have been presented by Princess To Puea to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The presentation took place yesterday afternoon during a visit to the pa a.t Ngaruawahia of a party of visitors! from the Auckland Museum. Those who the trip were the president (Mr. H. E. Vaile), and Messrs. A. T. Pycroft, Keorge Graham and Gilbert Archey (curator of the museum).

The party was entertained with true Maori hospitality by the Princess. The latter has shown very great interest in the Memorial Museum, and especially in the splendid Maori collection and the demonstration by it of the history of the Maori race.

One of the gifts is a very fine and handsomely carved canoe bailer, which is of special interest, in that it formerly belonged to the great war canoe Te Toki-a-Tuapui, which is in the museum. This bailor was used in the canoe when it sailed the Manukau Harbour 50 years ago. The other articles are a ceremonial c.inoe paddle with a liberally carved and inlaid handle, formerly the property of Wiremu te Wheora and the Ngati-Naho people, and a hand.-ome cloak in the taniko pattern, which was used at the funeral rites of the Chief Te Huheu.

In making the gifts the princcss said that when she visited the new museum a few weeks ago she was very gratified at the compliment paid to the Maori people by the very appropriate use of Maori designs in decorating the halls of ilio new building.

Mr. Vaile, in thanking To Pnoa for hrr presents, expressed the appreciation of the council of the museum for her co-operation and help in adding so materially to the historic interest of the display' which will be made in the War Memorial Museum.