From the Pacific

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 174, 13 October 1927, Page 9

From the Pacific

\ VALUABLE DOUBLE CANOE ! I FROM THE COOK ISLANDS j j HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO ! | AUCKLAND MUSEUM | ■ i “TE-PU-O-TE-MOANA” Through the instrumentality of Judge Ayson, Resident Commissioner at the Cook Islands, the Auckland Museum has been presented with a rare type of double canoe. To - Pu - Tangi - o-Te-Moana, or "the blowing trumpet of the sea," to give 'the historic canoe its_ full title, was landed at the King s Wharf from the Waipahi this morning, IT is not proposed, however, to display this interesting exhibit until the new War Memorial Museum is completed. ... The canoe was the property of the Parua Ariki family of Atiu. The name of its first owner was Parua Niuroti. It has been known for many years by the islanders as a cherished relic of days gone by. Made of tamanu wood, the canoe has two hulls, separated by a small platform. Each hull consists of two distinct parts sewn together. Each canoe has a sharp-pointed, plain prow, and a vertical projection at the stern similar to the smaller type of Maori craft. Both are 24ft in length. Canoes of this type have been known to extend 60ft in length. The last of that size, however, was reported in 1890. As the coastal variety is rather rare, the curator, Mr. Gilbert Archey, is particularly delighted with the gift. HAURAKI SWAMP COLLECTION Other recent gifts include a valuable collection of wooden and stone pounders, s.dzes, a long-handled spade, ktimera weeders, and a large food bowl, which have been deposited in the museum by Mr. Walter Peters, of Kaiaua, through the medium of Mr. Hallyburton Johnstone. All were obtained from the Hauraki swamps. Mr, Douglas, Hauraki: An old kumera pounder, and the step of a spade. Mrs. T. Gordon: A paddle taken in the fighting at Awhltu, 1863 (on behalf of her father, Mr. J. C. Firth). Mr. H. W. Carbury: A large maul of rewa-rewa wood, dug up at Otorohanga. Mr. F. J. Ohlson, headmaster of Maungawhau School: "Valuable collection of bird skins; also Pacific Islands Mr. W. Blomfield, Takapuna: Greenstone needle or pendant. Mr. D. M. Jones, Stanley Bay: Large perforated sinker found on the mainland off Kawau Island. Dr. C. E. R. Bucknell, Tauranga: Sinker found at Mount Maunganui; also rubbing stone, and tatooing needle.

Mr. Allan Gilmore, Mt. Eden: Adz's and sinker (chiefly from Raglan district). Mr. D. N. Campbell, Hastings: Two stone adzes. Mrs. S. J. Lockwood: Hand-made Indian shawl worn by her mother during the Mutiny. Miss Dorothy Ainsworth, Epsom: Set of ration books used in Great War. Mr. B. B. Lyons: German service rifle.