MAORI CULTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1930, Page 3

MAORI CULTURE

IN VEST!CATIONS OF ITS OB IGI NS

DB BUCK’S MISSION

WELLINGTON. March 17

Dr Buck, formerly a member representing the Native race .in' the New Zealand Parliament, and -jiow a re- ! sea.: eh officer of the Bishop Muscmuii. | Honolulu, is paying a brief visit to the Dominion in the course of Iris interesting task of tracing the development of Polynesian culture. He has attended the recent ceremonial gatherings of Native peopl- on the East Coast, and is now making a tour of New Zealand’s principal museums. He left to-night for Dunedin, and will on the return journey insjy- I: Canterbury Mmseum, gathering data for his work, which will lie completed on his return to Honolulu. “One feature which will directly interest New Zealanders,” remarked Dr Buck to a “Times” correspondent, “is that what we learn from the islands of Polynesia forms the background for our study of the Maori. By comparison with results of research into early <-ullural conditions in the Cook Grown -Samoa and other islands, wo are able to see what the Maori brought with him, and how he lias developed under different conditions of life and climate in New Zealand.”

Dr Buck- will complete his work by close examination of Maori material in the Dominion Museum and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. He has ro-eivod an invitation from the Auckland Institute to lecture in \iickland before his departure on April 8t:li. and will give his only public address in Auckland if the time is suitable to the Auckland committee.