UNIQUE CHAIR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 30, 30 October 1942, Page 8

UNIQUE CHAIR

Thirteen Historic Pieces Of Wood GIFT TO FOUNDERS’ SOCIETY A handsome presidential ehair, made from 13 pieces of wood, all of historic interest to New Zealanders, was presented to the New Zealand Founders’ Society at its annual meeting in Wellington last night, by Mr. Dudley Tripe. The president of the society, Flight Lieutenant C. W. 1). Bell, was in the chair. The pieces of wood, a short history of each of which was given by Mr. A. J. Seed, who was responsible for the. collection, Had taken 18 mouths to assemble, and came from many parts of New Zealand. Much goodwill and.courtesy had been shown by the donors, who had compiled the history oj each piece sent, said Mr. Seed. Most of the pieces were kauri. They were described as follows: — (1) A piece of kauri taken from tin-, tier the stone doorstep of the, first house built by white men in New Zealand, at Keri Keri, North Auckland, in Lblo. It was only discovered when the stone above it wore out and was lifted. £0r ,.,. re1 , nient. The donor was Miss Charlotte Kent]). Keri Keri, . (2) A piece of kauri from the second bridge built over the Balelutha lliver, Otago, in 1880. Given by Mr, J> Grant, Dunedin. . , (3) A piece from a squared log of Australian hardwood, which formed part ot the cargo of the brig Boyd, burnt and sunk by the Maoris in M hangttroa llatbour in.1809,' and had only recently been retrieved. Given by Mr. J. S. Laue, lotU1(”l)1 Kauri from a gatepost of a Church of England property at Tauranga, erected in 1831). Given by Miss A 11. Mudwell, a relative of tue founder of the i»ibsion, and-Btill living in the original buthl--IUS(S) Matui ■ from a chest of drawers built in the Wairarapa 70 years ago from timber hand split and dressed. («) Kauri from a military blockhouse built near the mouth of: the M aitara River, Taranaki, in 1800, during the Maori Wars. Given by Mr. A. a,. Black,. (7) 1 Kauri from the oldest, existing building in Nelson, now forming part o„ the art gallery. The building was ong-' inally built by Dr. Matthew Campbell for a school and the foundation stone was in nd by Sir ’William Fox on February 14, 1843 • . (8) Totara given by Mr. 11. Tai Mitchell, C.M.G. It formed part of one of Ute three main carved supporting pillars of the ridge or tatihu of the meeting house of the Arawa confederation ot tribes, the tree from which, it was made being felled in 186 G. ~ , 1 (9) Red beech from the weather boarding of a building in Lawrence. Otago, built, in 1867 and recently demolished. (10) Honduras mahogany, part ot pav chest, and washed ashore front I I M S. Orpheus, which wits wrecked on Mauukau Bar in 1863. The chest bore the date .1780., . . (11) Oak from a tree still growing at Tainaliere, Hamilton, which was planted in 1864. It is new one; of the largest oaks in New Zealand,' with a gifih ot 1fee (F2) Matai from St. John’s Anglieau Church. Te Awumutu, erected by the Rev. John Morgan in 1853. . , , (13) Totara, part of a 10ft. pointin picket from the stockade of the lotakoinoatia Pa fort used by .the Maoris m the Taupo district till 1830.