MAORI CARVING

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 180, 10 May 1939, Page 3

MAORI CARVING

PR E’-P A KESHA WORK TE KAHA f EXAAIPLE A particularly interesting photograph, presented to' the Dominion Alliseuni hv Air. AVm. Cl Davies, curator of the Cawthron Institute Museum, shows what- is believed ta be the finest example of Alaori carving of the period before the lEuropean settlement in New Zealand. This is the maihi, or gable board, -of a food storehouse which stood formerly in Te Kaha, Bay of Plenty. The carving was clone in 1780, with stone tools, and is of remarkable beauty and perfection of detail. It is hard to credit the fact that no steel was used to cut the intricate wliorls and figures. It depicts a number of the grotesque .semi-human figures beloved of Alaori artists of old, and incorporates according to tradition the figure of a whale. Tlie storehouse, or pataka, which was an historic one of great value, was dismantled and concealed in a cave near Te Kaha, whence it was recovered in 19€0j and is now in the Auckland Museum collection. The photograph is a fine one, Air. Davies being an. honorary member cl the Royal Photographic Society. Li is' suitably mounted for exhibition, and- will be placed in the museum.