[...] is both correct, and amusing, and reminds me of many
troublesome, ridiculous, and sometimes risky episodes, connected
with various phases of the tapu question, and in which I have
either been the offender personally, or have had to relieve, or
release some other culprit. I am acquainted with the biography of
several of the persons forming the subject of the portraits, and
can corroborate the truthfulness thereof, but think a great many
interesting details could be added to them, and I trust that before
the final completion of your Sketches some additional particulars
may be supplied to you by persons living in the districts of which
the deceased chiefs were owners, and inhabitants - and also that
the biographies not yet given may be furnished to you.
In conclusion I will state that in my opinion the collection of
Maori implements, weapons, ornaments, carving, garments etc made by
Captain Gilbert Mair, is of great value, and worth much more than
is being paid for it. It illustrates the arts, and habits of the
Maori; and many of the articles are absolutely unprocurable now; in
fact some of them, after a residence of 56 years in this Colony,
were new to me and I only knew them by name, and tradition. As
regard your Gallery of Maori Portraits, if you should ever feel
desirous of parting with it, it would become the duty of the
Government, or the public, to purchase it from you, for the use and
benefit of the Colony. With the addition of a few more notabilities
to your present collection of portraits, and their biographies;
which might be supplemented by researchers and extracts from the
records of the Native Lands Court - a tolerably complete "History
of the Maori in New [...]
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