THE MAORI MUSEUM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2128, 10 July 1907, Page 1

THE MAORI MUSEUM.

Mil HAMILTON’S PROPOSALS. “Wo want to have a national Maori museum representing the art of the Maori people,” said Mr. A. Hamilton, the other day, expressing gratitude for the Government decision to properly house the Maori relics under his charge. “I think it is the duty of the Government to the Maoris to establish such a place and also a duty of the Maori people co support it so that their descendants 'may be able to say: ‘Here is the work of our fathers.’ ” Works

in wood, added Mr. Hamilton, would icrish in a couple of generations if

allowed to remain outside. The museum was tho proper place for their reception. Ho believes that soon when the Maoris see that their treasures will be safely housed, they will agree to let them go in to the Colonial Museum, and | lat it is very likely that private collectors will assist by depositing specimens to complete the series. 'The Maori room included in the plans for the new block will be large enough for a commencement, but will not suffice for a' complete collection. However, this deficiency of space will be remedied when tlio proposed now museum building is an accomplished fact. For some years Mr Hamilton lias been working industriously to realise his ideal of a national Maori museum. Reference to a circular which lie issued half a dozen years ago shows the ideas that lie had in mind: “Tho museum would further show that thero is no desire to destroy or to lose any of the ancestral glories of the long lines of Maori chiefs who built up tho Maori polity during the past centuries. Those of mixed blood will feel that they have on each side cause to be proud of their descent, and that no taint of racial animosity still exists to recall the time when their forefathers met in tho chivalrit combat, and that darker pages of the record are sealed down. It wil also be a Valhalla for the Maori, a place in which the memories of tlicir great ones can be enshrined and perpetuated. It could he made a rallying point from which an effort could be made to keep alive the environment that gave rise to the traditional songs, and karaklas which have come down through the ages of tradition. The proposal so far has

met, not only with the sympathy of, but marked encouragement from many leading Maoris, whose goodwill and promised co-operation augur well for the future prospects of the project. As soon as the leading features of the museum work are well established some provision should be made for exploitation in previously selected districts. Much may he done by carefully directed excavation on the sites of old pas.”