19

H.—22

Board of Science and Art Publications. Authority has recently been given for the publication of Manual No. 2, " Wild Life in New Zealand Mammalia," and Bulletin No. 2, " The Portobello Marine Fish-hatchery," both by the Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C. These arc now in the hands of the Government Printer. The blocks for Professor 0. A. Cotton's manual, " The Geomorphology of New Zealand," are nearing completion, and it is hoped that this work also will shortly be placed in the hands of the Printer. New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology. —During Dr. Thomson's absence the office of Acting-Editor is being filled by Professor C. A. Cotton. The Journal, which has been slightly reduced in size on account of the paper-shortage, continues to fill an important place among the scientific publications of the world. Museum Publications. Owing to paper-shortage and the high cost of production no issues of Museum bulletins have been made, but it is hoped that one or more, the copy for which has been prepared by Mr. Best, will be published during the ensuing year. Museum Ethnographical Expedition. An expedition to the Wanganui River, for the purpose of collecting ethnographical data, photographs, and dictaphone records, was made in March and April last by Messrs. Elsdon Best, Johannes Andersen, and myself. My energies were devoted mainly to photographic work, and partly to securing dictaphone records. Over three hundred still photographs were taken, and between 5,000 ft. and 6,000 ft. of cinematograph-film exposed. On the work of the expedition Mr. Elsdon Best reports as follows :—- --" The expedition undertaken by Messrs. J. McDonald, J. C. Andersen, and myself was a successful one. The field selected for operations was the Whanganui Valley, and several weeks were spent at Koriniti, Hiruharama, and Pipiriki in collecting ethnographical data. The result was gratifying, and is due to the extreme kindness displayed by the Natives towards vs —they not only treated us with great hospitality, but also placed themselves at our disposal in regard to the obtaining of illustrations pertaining to old-time industries, &c.; also, they presented the Museum with a number of Native artifacts of an interesting nature. So helpful, indeed, were these folk that to insert a list of the names of those who afforded us generous aid would add seriously to the length of this report. Dr. P. Buck joined us at Koriniti and conducted further anthropometrical work, also investigating thoroughly the manufacture of baskets, mats, &c, in view of preparing monographs on these subjects. A very large number of photographs were taken of old Native games, industries, implements, &c, and also movingpictures of a number of manufacturing processes and other activities of pre-Europcan life. Dictaphone records of Native songs were obtained to the extent of over fifty cylinders, and some interesting data were obtained as pertaining to old tribal and racial lore. Since our return letters have been sent to many of the Natives thanking them for donations and much kindly assistance." Mr. J. C. Andersen reports as lollows :—• " During the expedition up the Whanganui Valley in March-April, 1921, a number of new string figures was secured. There were few of any great complexity; but among them were interesting parallels with Pacific and American figures, the results being the same, but the method of procedure different. A number of string tricks was also secured ; some were the same as tricks known among Europeans, some were quite new. These and the figures will appear, with descriptions, in the Journal of Science and Technology. Many of the figures gathered at Gisborne and Rotorua were known to the Whanganui people, but their names were quite different, so a considerable addition has been made to the list of synonyms. " Two typical songs connected with popular figures learned in other parts of the Island were secured, also two characteristic tui and tarakihi songs. A great many records of other songs were obtained, but they were not very varied in character ; they form an important record, however, of the Whanganui dialect, and mapy were excellent examples of the characteristic and varied Maori rhythm." Ethnographical Collections. Maori. —Accessions during the year include gifts from the following !• —-Mrs. T. S. Adams, Nelson : Three stone adzes ; one small flax cloak with taniko border. Mrs. J. H. Pope, Wellington : One ko (carved) with carved teka attached ; one carved ko step or teka; one paddle (Waikato make). Mr. H. N. McLeod, Wellington : One flat whalebone implement. Mrs. Purvis Russell, Scotland: One short-handled patiti (carved) ; one patu whitau (stone) ; one bone wahaika (carved) ; three taiaha ; two tewhalewha; one kakauroa; two carved walking-sticks; one model canoe ; one latara cloak; four korowai ; two paepaeroa ; one carved waka huia ; one stone adze. Colonel Ward : Three stone adzes ; one stone bowl. Miss Castle : One adze. The Museum expedition to the Wanganui River received numerous gifts of various articles, all of which are now on exhibition in the Museum. General Ethnographic Collections. —Accessions during the year include gifts from His Excellency the Administrator, Samoa ; Mrs. T. S. Adams, Nelson ; Mr. C. Mackley, Wellington ; Dr. J. Allan Thomson, Wellington ; Mr. Harrison, Savaii ; Judge Vaif-usu, Upolu ; and Mr. and Mrs. E. Tregear, Wellington. Purchases include sundry artifacts which help to fill gaps in our Melanesian collections. On his ethnographical work Mr. Elsdon Best reports as follows : — " The ethnographical work done during the past year consists of the completion of a work bearing the provisional title of ' The Maori as He Was,' the translation of original Maori matter, the compilation of monographs connected with the series of Museum bulletins, and a number of miscel-