Collection Search

letter, 16/04/1934, H.D. Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Request for Pacific islands stamps. Has received a box of human hair items from D.G. Kennedy in the Gilberts. Also a throwing stone in stalactite for catching Frigate birds.

letter, 12/04/1934, H D Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Discusses distribution of crescent-shaped pendants in the Pacific; publication of traditions; acknowledges receipt of various items including the gift of a toki. Skinner would like to have Raphael Semmes "Two Years Afloat".

letter, 17/03/1934, H D Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Note that receipt for 3 pounds forwarded to Mrs Wilcox

letter, 16/03/1934, H D Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Has already forwarded cheque for 29 pounds. Will send 3 pounds to Morrinsville for Aitutaki fish hook, whale ivory fish hook, black stone pounder from Atui, 2 wooden penu, breadfruit splitter (which looks brand new), pearl-shell fish hook and a piece of tapa. Requests receipt from Mrs Wilcox. Very interested in Atui kumete and a paroe from Makea's Ariki cook house. Would also like coffin of tamanu wood. Discussion on crescent-shaped pendants across the pacific; interested in whether found on the Cooks. Returning JD Campbell's pukapuka hook and discussion of Polynesian fish hook design. Has seen Gordon Palmer's adze. James Palmer has described blackmailing objects out of French Polynesia.

letter, 08/02/1934, H.D. Skinner(unsigned) to Mr Drury Low, Correspondence regarding the retyping of various stories about Ruatapu Ariki, Varokura, which are to be sent to the Journal. Regarding adzes, there are 3 hafted adzes, 62 adzes of which 32 are Low's. The Otago Museum already had 60 Adzes from the Cook Islands. Around 30 of the old adzes have been put away. Gruner gave an adze weighing 57 ounces to the British Museum, the largest he has given yet. Mention of a piece of tapa from the Cook Islands, which looks to be of Samoan origin due to the pattern. Mention of a large number of Rarotongan adzes, perhaps as many as 70.

letter, 3/02/1933(1934 was written over 1933), H.D. Skinner(unsigned) to Mr Drury Low, Correspondence regarding the retyping and editing of some Polynesian stories which are to be sent to the Journal of the Polynesian society. Mention of a recent attack in Parliament on Ngata and the Native Department having an effect. Mention of the Cook Islands collection being quite a strong one, but lacking some desired pieces. Skinner mentions receiving the vena hook, made of sperm whale tooth, and the wooden kura vena hook.

letter, 15/12/1933, H.D. Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Paper on discovery needs rewriting. The Atamira is good and on display. We would like to get the two wooden pounders. Toki you sent was a rare axe. Your material should be published in the Polynesian journal as a memoir. Go slow on collecting we only want good old stuff, that Atamira, pua discs, stone penu with cross bar. Judge Ayson may be holding up appointment of an administrator

letter, 18/11/1933, H.D. Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Money is tight. two price lists for pieces sent. We want Adzes, Fish hooks, food bowls, coconut scrapers, seats and back rests. Cream coloured adze made from tridacna shell, such pieces show pre European interconnection between islands as did the Aitutaki greenstone

letter, H.D. Skinner to Mr Drury Low, 2nd instalment suggested price list

letter, 27/09/1933, H.D. Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Sorry to hear of your fever. Have the pounder found in the Vai Tiare creek and brown adze. Would give 25/- for it. A missionary from Solomons has come back with a vast collection including over 1700 adzes We are getting our mutual finances sorted.

letter, 13/09/1933, H.D. Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Found your really knobbed adze. Cream tridacna adze probably from Rakahanga. Penu is nice 10/6. Brown adze coated with limonite 12/6

letter, 29/08/1933, H.D. Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Acknowledging last three correspondences. Refers to 'fish hooks' as 'kura vena' and requests example. Suggests monograph on subject. Notes Captain Allen left adze with Australian museum; discusses binding of knobs on adzes. Offers 20 pounds for a lot of adzes, noting they differ from typical Polynesian forms. Pounders - one pound offered for Mangaia specimen. Tutuato and Stamira discussed with payment made acknowledged. Notes Registrar to send 35 pounds plus another six pounds as payment for items. Reference to excellent drawings and encouragement for publication of monograph on birthing customs in Aitutaki. Also encourages a paper on 'kumetes' ; shows interest in securing bowls from Atiu.

letter, 18/05/1933, Philip Woonton to Mr Drury Low, Sending tobacco and pearl shells, request for sack of Arrowroot.

letter, 26/05/1933 to Mr Drury Low, Discussion on price for objects, especially items not sighted. Box of items received. Discussion various people and their work inc Dr Ellison, Kenneth Emory, Kelly, Kennedy, Beasley, Buck, Te Rangi Hiroa. Request articles for Polynesian Society. Please follow up with Wooton re carved planks from swamp, and greenstone owned by James. Request for fish hooks and stone and coral files .

letter, 17/08/1932, Assistant Curator to Mr Drury Low, Author thanks Mr Low for the Manihiki pa which was placed on exhibition with Cook Island material. Mention of sorting out a deal to purchase some material from the Cook Islands. Author details that they are looking for atamira, headrests, cocoanut graters, penu, tapa beaters, and other items.

letter, 16/05/1932, Assistant Curator to Mr Drury Low, Author mentions that they are only collecting ethnographic material at present, and that they currently have 50 to 60 adzes, most from Rarotonga but a few from Mangaia.

Letter, 14/06/1938, H D Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Expression of a desire to help Mr Low by writing to the Prime Minister and Berendson. Request for information regarding the two photographs of a large bowl sent previously.

Letter, 12/07/1938, H D Skinner to Mr Drury Low, Skinner has written to the registrar requesting a cheque of 2 pounds to Mr Drury's wife.

Letter, 30/06/1938, H D Skinner to Drury Low, Enclosed letters sent to Mr Berendson and Savage. Also writing to others. Received penu and adzes which were sent last year.