RARE TREASURES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 603, 7 August 1933, Page 7

RARE TREASURES

REMOVAL OF EXHIBITS TO NEW DOMINION MUSEUM. READY FOR THE MOVE. Wellington, Y/ednesday, Although it will be many months yet before the Dominion Museum wil] be able to boast of a. building worthy of its purpose, preparations have been in train for some time for the rearrangement and subsequent removal from the present antiquated museum building of the exhibits which will adorn the new show cases. Lack of space in the present building prevents many of the collections and treasures from heing adequately displayed and also prevents some from heing shown at all. But with new cases and more room, the new museum building will do justice to many undoubted treasures possessed by the Dominion Museum. Some of the material which has found its way into the present Dominion Museum during the course of years is of n0 real interest or value, and what is really rubbish will not he removed to the new museum. It will be storecf away or else used for exehange purposes, the policy adopted by Mr. W. R. B. Oliver, the director, being to display only what is worthy of a place in a nation'al museum. Amongst the exhibits may be seen the Easter Island equivalent of the Maori taiaha. It is of similar shape, but shorter and wider in proportion to the length'. Whereas the projecting end in the taiaha is carved as the tongue, in the Easter Island weapon it is the top of the head. Another interesting Island exhibit is from the Cook Islands. In ceremonial processions in Mangaia, Cook Islands, peace adzes mounted in elaborately carved handles were carried by certain of the participants. The stone head is helved as an adze, that is, with the cutting edge at right angles to the handle. The double canoes of he Union or Tokelau Islands are interesting, and the Dominion Museumi has some models. In many parts of Polynesia canoes were linked together in pairs for greater safety when navigating the open seas. From the Far East. One of the exhibits shows the type of armour used in Japan before the country was open to European influence. Japan was practically closed to the outside world until about 80 years ago, when pressure was brought to bear by the United States and some of the European nations with the result that certain ports were opened to outside trade. Since that time the whole of the advancement that Japan has made along Wesern lines has taken place. Gorgeous silk robes elaborately emIbellished with designS representing dragons were worn hy high officials when admitted tinto the presence of the Emperor of China. The peculiar shape of the sleeves is that known as ma-tee or horse hoof. When not in audience the cuff was turned back. Another treasure is a Japanese hronze, an interesting example eight inches in height. Natural History Exhibits. Among the natural history exhibits is the moa. This is, of course, a _restoration, but probably gives a fairly true indication of the appearance of the largest species, which stood almost eleven feet in height. The racoon washes its food before eating it. It catches crabs by holding its tail just on the surface of the water. The crab soon investigates this, and .as soon as it grips it the racoon whisks the tail out of the water with the crab, which it at once devours. Coon hunting was a favourite kind of sport among the negroes when slavery was practised iri the United States. The art of the modern taxidermist is seen in the case of New Zealand j fishes. Stuffed fishes usually make very poor exhibits quite diiferent from the lifelike and permanent painted easts. The species shown include the kelp fish, rays, bream, kokopu, drummer, and bass. Amongst the birds are the New Zealand falcon, the gamest species in the country, and the crowned crane, a beautiful African hird. The young alligator and the hluetongued lizard are amongst .the exhibits of reptiles which will he shown. The Mississippi alligator is still quite common in some of the rivers of the United States. It is much sought for its hide and is killed because it eats the farmers' pigs. But as the alligator decreases, moccasin" snakes and musk rats inerease. Alligators put up a go,od fight, but do not offer fight if there is a cjiance of retreat.

Some like the miser hoard the golden grain, Till others flinging it to the winds like rain ; But we who with bees true wisdom learn Shall sip the honey whilst the spendthrifts year. Come! pour the juice and leave a shattered bowl, Who hoardeth wine, for youth provides a goal," ■ • Let they who follow ease for colds assure With soothing Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.