CAPTAIN COOK RELICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 71, 19 March 1912, Page 7

CAPTAIN COOK RELICS.

A HANDSOME GIFT TO NEW ZEALAND. It is scarcely possible to estimate the value of the gift of South Sea relics which has become the property of the Dominion of Now Zealand through the generosity 1 of Lord St. Oswald, says a London correspondent under date February 7th. Many of them are definitely associated with the great navigator Cool:, while others, though not so' identified, were obtained from the'South Seas by other navigators of the same period, and consequently haVo a’ value of their own. From New Zealand there are .several valuable meres, tewhatewha and patupatu, tikis, and feather mats. The relics came into possession of the family of Lord St. Oswald at a sale at the Egyptian Sail in 1819, and have never since been out of custody of Nos tell Priory, near Wakefield. Some of a similar description which have been secured at different times for museums in America, are very highly prized and jealously guarded there. Those in New Zealand who are interested in these historical matters wil regret once more that the Dbmihion does not possess a safe and properly constructed depository for the exhibition and custody of such relics. To my knowledge there are manuscripts in England Avh'icli might bo obtained for the Dominion if the present owners were only satisfied that New Zealand had the means of looking after them. The new gift has not yet been properly -classified, but it is, known to include roughly.' the folio-wing articles : ■i" 1 : : !• ■ ! The feather ‘ cloak and' helmet which are'descqljpd in Captain Cook’s journal as having been presented to him by the chief Torrosoboo, at the Sandwich Islands shortly before Ids death. Terresoboo himself threw the cloak over Cook, and placed the helmet on his head, the natives at that time regarding the navigator almost in the light of a god, and calling him ‘‘Crone.’’ is. mgde of. the feathers of an extinct bird, and is very valuable. There is another cloak of -: similar feathers. Then there is the dress of the chief mourner at Otaiieiti (Tahiti), made of mother of pearl, and the leathers of the tropic bird; another helmet and feather cloak from Otahciti; and a military gorget worn by warriors in the same group. The collection includes ■ also bone and stone meres and patupatus, and a hatchet from New Zealand, two wooden patupatus, three fish-hooks, and two axes, African musical instrument called balafou, a fine feather idol from the Sandwich Islands, a pair of bracelets of boars’ teeth, a cloak made of the feathers of the powbee, bordered with red and yellow, a feather hat, Captain Cook’s fly-flick-er, the handle .being made of the arrabono of a chief taken in war, a stoneheaded war-club, .and an idol, two noseflutes from the Sandwich Islands, carved patupatu, many Avar clubs, two flue heitikis from New Zealand, and «in ornamental Iviiife edged with sharks’ teeth; African horn, and two fans, flax mats and pouches, a green embroidered horse cloth, the bone of a sword-fish, mother of pearl Avaisteloth, Fijian shoes and gloves, flint and bone instruments, etc. It is expected that the collection, carefully packed, will he shipped to Now Zealand in a Avoek or tAvo.