Maori Box

One of the items on the desk is a Maori box, made of wood which was a gift to Paul Harris from the Rotary Club of Wellington, New Zealand.  It has an inscription and Rotary logo under the box.

"To Paul Harris who through service has given us many happy hours Wellington NZ 1935".  

According to Suzanne, the daughter of the late Sir John Ilott, this box was most likely presented when Paul Harris and his wife Jean were staying at the Ilott's home in Wellington in 1935.

Boxes like this were carved to house tail feathers from the now extinct Huia bird. Maori Chiefs would wear them in their hair for special occasions and the feathers were used to decorate Maori feathered cloaks. The Box would be elongated and oval to follow the contours of feathers. The carving would be a very ornate spiral design and very distinctively Maori.  Information from Rtn Linton Adams of Hutt City RC, New Zealand

More views, and the story of this box: click here

The origin of the box below is uncertain.

This ongoing project is the work of RGHF historian Basil Lewis, first posted 7 April 2006 This section is maintained by RGHF webmaster Paul D. McLain. If you can help identify or supply more information about anything on this page, please contact us at www.historycomment.org

After you see the museum office, meet his partners and office workers at Harris Dodds & Brown. (A page of photographs of the actual office in the early 2000's)

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