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Southern Māori Archives Project

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letter, 08/06/1935, W. Maurice Brown to H D Skinner, When wrote to inquiring about prospects of securing one of the poles from the look out at Okarea Pa, Brown had anticipated not much trouble in doing so and hoped to secure more. After making several arrangements to enter Urewera, Brown was doomed to disappointment. A friend was unable to accompany him on one attempt, then three other times were unsuccessful, he decided to wait it out. Brown was surprised to read in the half column of the Auckland Herald about his discovery headed 'Valuable Carvings Discovery in Urewera, Dedicated Craftsmanship, Collectors Treasure Trove' of which went on to focus on two carvings a young school master had found. The carvings were lying in the bush upon the ground, belonging to no specific person, left to rot and decay in their native place. They were surrounded by the native tapu. To not offended Maori tradition or to desecrate their sacred laws of Tapu, Brown removed the discoveries as secretly as possible at various different times and modes. Mr Willi Fels enthusiasm for the works lapsed his better judgement as he related to the public the manner of the discovery and this has informed the Urewera Maori of the discovery of the carvings and their removal by a school teacher. Since the publication Brown has received tips from three sources saying he should give Urewera a 'wide birth' to cause no further upset. Brown states he has great admiration and respect for the elderly maori and their traditions, and he feels forced not to attempt any revisit to Te Whaiti in the immediate future, he looks forward to the time this unfortunate occurrence has blown over and in the position to follow up his exploration among the Pa of Urewera and assist the Otago Museum in every manner possible. Brown will have to leave his prospective trip to Urewera until an indefinite date. Brown was however extremely gratified in the same herald clipping that the carvings were highly valued and appreciated and restored to somewhat of their original state.

letter, 04/11/1935 to Mr Peter Buck, Congratulations on taking charge of the Bishop Museum, was uncertain of what date Buck was taking over so had delayed. Emory has said Buck is completing a memoir on the adze of Mangareva and there is a hesitation to use authors cards, there is no need for hesitation, use as he would his own. Author has been working for a long time on classification of the adzes of Canterbury, Otago and Southland and has worked out a system that works near perfectly, works also for the Chathams and nearly for the Cooks. For the three main areas of the North Island, East Coast, West Coast and North Auckland a slight modifications has been made due to different natures of the rocks. Recently received a greenstone adze dug out of a midden in Northern Tasmania. In relation to the New Zealand looking adzes of Norfolk Island and Dark Point, New South Wales, wouldn't be surprised if this is a New Zealand type too, but it belongs to New Caledonia in origin. Author has just completed a paper on New Zealand bone harpoon-heads and another on the carved box enclosing a skull found on Banks Peninsula, author also has a large amount of materials for classification of the fish-hooks of the South Island. The museum has just received from Banff, Scotland, six wooden shark-hooks and four kahawai-hooks secured in Wellington in 1842, the best bunch of Taranaki harkhooks at present known. The Museum now has a large amount of material connected with drilling in Murihiku including drill points in greenstone, wonders what extent this is a local development or if some of these features could be found elsewhere in Polynesia.