The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-27

The Curator Brings
Some Living
Trophies.

| Prof. Brigham, director of the Bishop
Museum, returned yesterday on the
Ventura from an eight-weeks' absence
in New Zealand and Australia, bring
ing interesting and valuable curios from
both countries to be placed in the mu-
scum, including some very rare orni-
biological specimens. The latter are
becoming acclimated on the premises of
DR.. Brigham on Judd street.
Among the feathered trophies is
kiwi, a wingless bird, which is a relic
| of the moa, formerly plentiful in the
Hawaiian Islands. but now extinct.
The one bird in DR.. Brigham's posses
| sion is therefore the. only one now in
existence here. The kiwi was brought
from New Zealand in a box which had
three compartments. In two eompart-
ments were a pair of wekas, or rail
| birds, peculiar fowl which looks
much like a hen and walks like the
mynah bird. The three birds had to be
kept separate as they were prone to
! quarrel on the voyage. When placed
| in a large wire enclosed space in the
professors back yard yesterday, they
| Immediately began digging in the
| grounds for worms and were soon in
the enjoyment of feast.
The kiwi is a very peculiar bird. 1t
not only has no wings but seemingly
none of the rudiments. It has long
| legs, and a very long, slender beak.
| After smelling over the ground the
| kiwi makes up it's mind that a worm is
u, L.
far down into the earth until the luck
less worm is found. 1t is then drawn
| to the surface and eaten. Prof. Brig
ham says the kiwi has been extinct here
for about forty years. In ancient dimes
in Hawaii it's feathers were used for
the making of royal cloaks. There are
cloaks made Of these feathers now on
| exhibition at the Bishop Museum.
Two of the sacred lizards of New Yea
land were also brought to Honolulu ami
are now enjoying life in a water tank
at Prof. Brigham's home. These rep
| tiles partake somewhat of the crocodile
and alligator as well as the lizard and
are quite tame. They are about two
feet long. They are becoming rare in
New Zealand, and with the above men
toned birds, are protected by the gov
eminent, there being a heavy penalty
the lizards We're worshipped by the
Maoris.
In discussing his trip yesterday aft
ernoon, DR.. Brigham said that the re-
suit has been satisfactory to him, and
he believes that the most cordial re-
lations have been made between the
countries he visited and the Bishop
Museum. Everywhere he was assisted
in making collections. and had he been
in possession of the necessary money
he could have made some splendid adj
ditions to his New. Zealand and Aus
tralian collections which would become
invaluable in time. His material was
brought up on the Ventura and will be
exhibited in the museum as soon as it
can be classified.
When l arrived in New Zealand I
was given a complimentary pass over
the government railroads and had ev-
cry assistance possible" said he. "They
have a promotion committee down
there that is hard to beat. You go to
their office and tell them you are to
remain about ten days. They imme-
diately fill out a card telling you where
to go, when to go, how to go, choice
Of hotels at different places, and your
time is worked up into the card up to
the very hour you are to leave the coun-
try. The Government has photographs
Oh exhibition showing everything of in
terest to see. The government gave |
be a very valuable collection of pictures
which will be on view here.
THE New Zealand geysers are Won |
derful, and the surrounding country is |
beautiful. 1t is one of the finest places |
to visit that 1 can ina CINE We went |
to the place where so many people were |
killed a short time ago. They were |
warned not to go near the big geyser, |
but they did SO, and the geyser instead ,
of shooting upwards, went off at an |
angle. They were swept into the boil |
ing river and cooked. We We're very
fortunate in seeing an eruption. We |
were to leave the place at p. M, and !
at minutes to an eruption suddenly |
took place. The geyser is a mud hole |
about an acre in extent Hot water |
shoots into the air about a thousand |
feet, and is a magnificent spectacle. 1 |
had my camera set and got fine pic |
ture of it.
We went into the aboriginal Maori |
country and 1 saw some very fine ma
tives. They are of the primitive type |
Many are much finer looking than the |
Hawaiians, that is some that / saw. /
Their carved houses are most curious. |
The government does not allow any
of these to be exported unless priviIeg-
ed. They gave me full permission to |
remove what 1 wished. but I lacked the
means to bring any here, except some
very fine house carvings. But I got
things there that I have been looking
for for years.
In Australia I also got some valu-
able curios which had been gathered by
an old Australian explorer. There are
collections now being offered for sale.
but again I lacked the money to get
these. Among the articles I have are
shields, boomerangs and spears.
The flax industry interested me. It
s quite large and a big cargo of the
product was put aboard the Ventura
for shipment to the States.
L intended getting a collection of
eorals at Pago Page, but was unfortu-
nate, as the weather was bad while we
were there and I was connpaIIad 70 o,i,-a