OLD MAORI CARVINGS.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 January 1919, Page 6

OLD MAORI CARVINGS.

A number of ianeient Maori carvings, found in a peat swamp on the Hauraki Plains by Mr. -L. Carter were recently placed in the Auckland Museum for an extended period. The carvings are estimated to be 250 years old, out they arc in a good state of preservation, this probably being due to the preservative qualities of peat. The chief piece of the collection is a carved top or doorway of a pare Bft by 4ft. Tho carving, which of course, must have been executed with stone tools, is exceedingly fine. The design has many points of difference when compared with later work. Another piece is what resembles a long-handled shovel, in work its use evidently having been to scoop a way for canoes through the swamp. Other articles appear to have bdm weapons of the nature of spears, but nothing similar has been found before. What appears to have been a drinking bowl is also among the treasures.

A permanent addition to the museum collection is a stone carving found in tho mud in the .Kaipara- Elver, near Helensville. It is estimated to be 150 years old. This curios was purchased by Mr A. S. Bankart, who donated it to thh museum.