Collection Search

letter, 23/04/1935, Willi Fels to H D Skinner, Arrived London on 20th and visited British Museum with Charles Brasch. Saw Easter Island figure like ours.

letter, 03/06/1935, Willi Fels to H D Skinner, Arrived Cambridge today visited the Fitzwilliam and the Anthropol museums. I shall see C B Humphries who is in charge of the Pacific section. They have 100 Fiji clubs. Fine New Zealand collection. Purchased a Maralla Gauntlet sword and Persian helmet and armguard all with gold inlay. Did not see Seldman. Some paddles in British museum have carvings I have never seen

letter, 13/11/1935, Native Land Court, Masterton to H D Skinner, Notes that Mr. Speight may have misunderstood his references to skulls which were brought back to the Akaroa ( Port Levy district) and Kaiapoi in November 1933. Writes about Moki who wished to be buried at Ruapekapeka. Describes avengement for Moki's death at Mahinaapua. Tumaro, Tanetiki and Tutepirirangi were drowned and their heads were buried at Ruapekapeka.

letter, 06/08/1935, J.E. Wheeler, Farra Bros., Dunedin to H D Skinner, Regarding distribution of warm air in the new wing of the museum. Suggests improvements for the system. Refers to plant being installed at His Majesty's Theatre.

letter, 25/09/1935, W. A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H D Skinner, Describes search in cave and difficulty locating materials.

letter, 28/08/1935, W. A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H D Skinner, Postal notes have not arrived. Discusses Skinner's planned visit to Kaikoura. Mentions Curran.

letter, 21/08/1935, W. A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H D Skinner, Has purchased comb from boy at Clarence Bridge. Also found a bone spear.

letter, 08/08/1935, W.A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H.D. Skinner, Comb enclosed on behalf of a boy from above Clarence, please value it and make an offer to him

letter, 27/07/1935, W.A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H.D. Skinner, Apologies for late reply, Pat Curran is interested in Skinner's book and offers to drive Skinner around and show him places of interest when he visits Kaikoura. Adzes and bone spear points have been found while digging a water pipe. Maori workmen claim the artefacts are theirs as they were not paid for the land. (Amendment added to the letter 5/8/35, including a page of annotated drawings of the adzes): 2 adzes and a tattooing tool have since been found, offers to send them to Skinner or wait until he visits.

letter, 26/06/1935, W.A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H.D. Skinner, Apologies for late reply, Ferry has been waiting on the boy, who has agreed to part with a burnt bone piece if Ferry repaired his watch. He has also found a skeleton and a carved rock too heavy to lift. Skinner's book is interesting - Ralph Parson has said his amulet is similar to one in the book. Pat Curran will send Skinner bone pieces from his collection if he writes to him. Ferry will show Curran the book too.

letter, 05/04/1935, W.A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H.D. Skinner, A boys' collection of pieces found in Takahanga domain enclosed, he would like Skinner to make an offer. Please return black leg shaped piece and let Ferry know what it is - found in midden by Clarence Bridge. Ferry dug a piece of comb, bone needle and flint (possibly a drill) from ashes at the pah (Pa) overlooking South Bay, which Skinner may keep. Will send Parson's bone piece. Describes a pa overlooking Hapuku River. Morton found there a 'Maori spade,' which is described.

letter, 15/02/1935, W.A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H.D. Skinner, Glad Teviotdale had much to interest Skinner after his trip. Please let ferry know what Skinner thinks of the cut tiki. Mentions an axe belonging to a woman that has disappeared, Gibson showed an interest in it so it is worth having. Sending other pieces, that may not be of interest, if so please return.

letter, 16/04/1935, W.A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H.D. Skinner, Please value enclosed axe & tell ferry what to offer. It was found in the same locality as the onewa. Gibson was keen to get it.

letter, 05/03/1935, W.A. Ferry, Kaikoura to H.D. Skinner, Have received the 5 G.S. pendants. Glad the Kaikoura section of the collection is looking well but hopes to still find some more material. Mentions a piece of doubtful authenticity, suggests it might have been done on a carborondum wheel. The only man capable of making a fake like this is Miller as it takes a lot of skill to cut greenstone on a wheel. Also sent to Skinner some bone and rubbish from the pa overlooking South Bay so he can get an idea of when it was occupied. Little chisel is nicely shaped and authentic, but is of little value so Ferry does not expect payment. (P.S. write to Parsons about his uncommon bone ornament).

letter, 23/02/1935, E.M. Finch to H.D. Skinner, Mrs Finch is abroad in Ceylon and will be away from home till the end of May. She left New Zealand 22/02/1935, escaping bad weather in Rangitikei.

letter, 11/03/1935, Mrs.C.E.Ford to H.D. Skinner, Letter regarding questions about Maori art. C.E. Ford noted she is a life member of the institute and explains she past work assisting Voyce in unpacking his collection of Stone implements. Requests Skinner calls on them, when visiting Auckland as she has a collection of stone implements total of 940 years(?) work. Asks questions regarding the Moriori people worked greenstone, as the Late Baueke(?) said she saw them making ordinary axes. Ford has been asked to give a lecture on Moas by the Maori association in Gisborne, and is asking about the dates in Otago for Moa.

letter, 02/03/1935, Mrs.C.E.Ford to H.D. Skinner, Ford asks Skinner if Moriori worked with greenstone. Ford explains that she had written to a late Mr Baceke on the subject who said he had seen Moriori work with greenstone. Ford explains that Dr Buist helped her to get in touch with Jamie Solomons. Ford explains she wrote to Solomons and found that he bred Romney marsh sheep and farmed 1500 acres. She then told him that she had one of the largest collections of Maori adzes axes. She then sent him a small parcel of water leaves. Solomons then said he was sending Ford a greenstone pendant. After Solomons death Ford said Mr Archery wanted her to sell the letters between herself and Solomons. Ford refused but agreed to deposit the letters during her lifetime. Mr Archey then asked her to sign a form allowing her family to be made an offer to sell them after her death. Ford then explains that she has been asked to write a paper on Moa and asks to know what Skinner's thoughts are.

letter, 12/06/1935, R. F. Fortune to H.D. Skinner, Fortune discusses his present field work in a gold mine and says that it brings social anthology back to the good earth. Fortune says that a chemist offered him 50 pound for swights (intelligible) which he declined. Fortune explains that he talked to the chemist that helped the miners and found out that there was something missing but he does not state what was missing just that it was science from "barbarians".

letter, 06/11/1935, Mr. B.C. Galloway to H D Skinner, Discusses the adze and polished greenstone enclosed. Mentions that if he finds anything on Stewart Island, where he will be working at end of the month, he will let Skinner know.

letter, 25/03/1935, Mr. Oscar Garrick to H D Skinner, Discusses his "token collection" that is in good condition, offers to exchange a token for anything of the same value.