27 



to a time long prior to the introduction of iron tools. In the show- 

 cases are arranged the smaller articles. The visitor should pay 

 special attention to a case devoted to the exhibition of a series of 

 carved coffins or burial-chests, sixteen in number, used to receive 

 the bones of chiefs of high rank. Several of these are believed to be 

 from two hundred to three hundred years old. 



Within the limits of a short notice it is impossible to mention 

 more than a fraction of the many treasures contained in this part 

 of the Museum. Suffice it to say that almost all the features of 

 Maori life are well represented. Their weapons ; their axes, gouges, 

 and chisels ; their fish-hooks and fishing - implements ; their bird- 

 snares and bird-spears ; their miscellaneous tools and implements ; 

 their elaborately carved feather boxes ; their musical instruments ; 

 their varied personal ornaments ; their cloaks and other articles of 

 clothing all are to be seen, and in most cases illustrated by numerous 

 examples. In a room adjoining the Maori Hall is a small foreign 

 ethnographical collection, serviceable for comparison with the work 

 of the Maoris. 



The main hall is devoted to the zoological and geological cellections. 

 In the centre of the lower floor stands an elaborate group comprising 

 a skeleton of the largest species of moa (Dinornis maximus] and a 

 life-size restoration, 10 ft. in height, of the bird itself. Surrounding 

 these are examples of the nearest living allies of the moa the 

 ostrich, the emu, and the cassowary. Occupying the remainder of 

 the centre of the hall are some fine groups of mammals obtained 

 under the provisions of a special bequest made by the late Mr. 

 Mackechnie. In the wall cases on the north and east sides of the hall 

 are placed the foreign birds ; on the south side the smaller mammals. 



The New Zealand birds, of which the Museum possesses a fairly 

 representative collection, will be found on the north side of the 

 gallery ; the fishes are shown on the south side ; while the reptiles, 

 including a varied set of preparations of the celebrated tuatara lizard, 

 must be sought for at the eastern end. The geological collections, 

 both New Zealand and foreign, are placed in a separate room opening 

 out on the Maori Hall. 



T. F. CHEESEMAN. 



ROTORUA AND TAUPO DISTRICTS. 



The Town of Rotorua, near the southern extremity of the lake 

 of the same name, is 171 miles by rail south-east from Auckland. 

 The surrounding district forms part of what is known as the thermal 

 belt or region of the North Island. This region extends north-east- 

 ward from Mount Ruapehu (9, 175 ft.) to White Island in the Bay 

 of Plenty, a distance of over 150 miles, and contains within its limits 

 several semi-active volcanoes, numerous geysers, and countless hot 

 springs. The prevailing rocks are andesites, rhyolites, agglomerates, 

 tuffs, and pumiceous drifts, late Tertiary to Recent in age. These 

 in many places have been profoundly altered by the action of heated 

 waters and vapours. 



The thermal district contains many lakes, some of which fill 

 explosion cavities, whilst others occupy downwarped hollows or areas 

 dammed by volcanic debris. 



