MAORI ANTIQUITIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7925, 5 October 1904, Page 4

MAORI ANTIQUITIES.

The Maori Antiquities Bill,' which has. passed its second reading in the Lower House, is very desirable legislation, and we trust it will be placed upon the Statute Book. The object of the measure is to prevent the wholesale exportation of Maori curios from the colony, and the Government are to be commended for having moved in the matter. During the Royal visit to this colony the Maoris threw away the most ancient curios in then- possession, and it has been stated since that the huge pile of gifts was so little appreciated that the whole collection was subsequently handed over to some institution in England. Other visitors of note have not gone away empty-handed, whilst the latest attraction to be carried away was the celebrated Maori house at Whakarewarewa. The latter, certainly, was not a free gift, the owner (Mr Charles Nelson) having disposed of it for the sum of ..1400 to the German Government. The New Zealand Government offered _GIOOO for the house, which was declined, but before they had time to submit a second offer it was sold to the representative of the German Government, who was in New Zealand a few months ago. In the course of time it may be thought desirable to establish a Maori Museum, and for that reason alone it is essential that an effort should be made to retain in the colony as many Maori antiquities as possible.