FARM TROPHY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1933, Page 8

FARM TROPHY

AHU WHENUA CUP

EFFECT OF THERMAL' FUMES

ROTORUA, July 17

A suggestion has, betm made by Mr H. Tai Mitchell, oil behalf of the Arawa tribe, that the Ahu Whenua, or Son of the Soil Cup, recently presented by the Governor-General, Lord Rledisloej''for the encouragement of farhiiiig under native land development schemes, and which was won for the first ' time by Mr ‘William Swinton Ruhtbki, be lodged in a section of the Auckland Museum. Owing, to the action' tof' thermal fumes, the atmosphere at Rotb'rua has a tarnishing effect upon the silver work, and it is considered that the cup would be better preserved in' the museum! Mr Mitchell also suggested that the Oncwa Patu, wliieh was presented by tile federation of Ngapuhi tribes to the Arawns, to mark the extinguishing of the 1 slumbering embers of enmity caused by inter-tribal wars between the two peoples should also bo displayed with the cup. This patu was presented to Sir Apirana Ngata during his visit to the North Aucklaml district in May last, by Henero Kingi, chief of the Ngati ttahu, and was conveyed bV Sir Apirarta, together \\ iili Ngapuhi peace overtures, to a large gathering of Arawk hapus held recently at'. Ohihemutu,. when the Gov-ernor-General akm presented the Ahu 'Whenua Cun, with the Ahu whenua Trophy .and the Onewa Patu.

Mr Mitchell suggested that a valuable greenstone mere and a Maori head modelled in life size in kapr.i gum, which were recently acquired in ‘Jap.nd.qn, and which are Arawi tribal heirlooms. should be -also lodged in the museum. ■ Appreciation and approval, of the offVr has been conveyed by the miieoum authorities, and the trophies and iici-Viouis 1 will accordingly be lodged in the museum by Mr Mitchell. In his letter to the museum authorities, Mr Mitchell said: ‘‘May we suggest that this Onewa Patu be -plia.eed alongside the Ahu Whenua Trophy, biccauee ive feel that the remarkable ,interest taken by their Excellencies in aIL matters appertaining ■te the Welfare of' the Maori and his history undoubtedly inspired, in. a very large degree,'the Ngapuhi gesture tvKihh produced the patu as a symbol bf that inspiration.”'