Southern Māori Archives Project

letter, 10/02/1935, J.L.Simcox to H.D. Skinner, I apologise for not writing sooner, and thank you for the list. I hope you have an interesting trip and when you returning I am hoping to have found a few more interesting things.

letter, 05/11/1935, H.D. Skinner to J.L.Simcox, In response to your letter asking for the numbers of the Journal of the Polynesian Society that will be of interest to you, I have enclosed an index compiled by Teviotdale. Please return my Moriori memoirs & I have papers on Maori harpoon-heads and classifying ground stone cutting tools in the works.

letter, 22/08/1935, H.D. Skinner to J.L.Simcox, I am glad you found the Moriori memoir interesting, Teviotdale will run through volumes of the journal and find ones of interest to you. Thank you for the sketches, the adze is similar to those of the Solomon Islands. The greenstone is likely a woodworking implement rather than an amulet.

letter, 03/08/1935, H.D. Skinner to J.L.Simcox, I am posting a copy of my Moriori memoir. Please let me know if you hear of curios from the East Coast for sale e.g. small bone and stone pieces.

letter, 27/07/1935, J.L.Simcox to H.D. Skinner, Wanting to visit to see the Moriori display at the Museum.

letter, 22/07/1935, H.D. Skinner to J.L.Simcox, Returning the Maori pieces sent to the Museum. A cast of the greenstone "cotton reel" was made and will be put in the exhibit when finished. Noted as a "Soft dark serpentine" material which is similar to the material from Caple's Valley, Lake Wakatipu. It is not showing relation to the South Island serpentines which are relatively hard antigorite. It is a non-antigoritic variety.

letter, 11/07/193, H.D. Skinner to J.L.Simcox, Describing his paper on amulet and the collection of fish, birds and lizards. Describes piece of Bird bone that is perforated and with sharpened ends as undoubtedly an unfinished tattooing chisel. Asks to see the collection of the East Coast Adzes. Asks about seeing his collection and having it added to the Museums registrar

letter, 07/07/1935, J.L.Simcox to H.D. Skinner, Detailed descriptions and some drawing of the adzes collection found with regards to the serpentine being softer than other material. Description of artefact with sharpened ends and perforations, poses question of its unidentified use to Skinner.

letter, 01/08/1935, Johannes Andersen to H D Skinner, Your 2 drawings sent on for notes and queries

letter, 02/07/1935, H.D. Skinner to J.L.Simcox, Regarding having drawings of the sent pieces and a casting of the reel in greenstone done. Asking if he would be okay with treatment performed on some of his bone artefacts to strengthen them, using a technique courtesy of the British Museum handbook. Technique: impregnating medium with 1% cellulose acetate in acetone. Dries invisible so will not be noticeable. Asks if the use of India ink to print the locality of the pieces, will be okay as they will not affect their appearances

letter, 25/06/1935, H.D. Skinner to J.L.Simcox, Describes a grass-green pendant from Purakanui and a greenstone cotton reel, describing them as prize pieces to any museum. Identifies the Marquesan "reels" to be primarily beads, on the basis that if they were created by the Maori, they would made out of stone and would be used as drill-weights. Unknown use of a reel made of sperm-whale ivory, but has some resemblance to the Marquesan ones. The harpoon points well very beautiful, are believed to be too small for any real use as a reel. Assures the safe return of all the artefacts when Miss Daff has completed all the drawings. Asks about the locality of the pieces and if the use of India ink is permitted as it guarantees not damage to the appearance of the pieces.

letter, 11/06/1935, H.D. Skinner to J.L.Simcox, Regarding the return of Simcox's collection and adds if he should ever give it up, that the Museum would be considered. Attaches a copy of his series of papers regarding Maori pendants and amulets. Offers if he should want his collection drawn, to send it to him to get done and added to the September issue of the Journal. Asks to see the comb in his collection. Describes a bone point fragment as closely allied with both Maori and Marquesan points in their collection. Asks too for an opportunity to have them drawn at the Museum.