The Work of Professor Buck

IT is some years now since Professor Peter H. Buck (Te Rangi Hiroa) published the results of his investiga tions at Aitutaki and other islands in the Cook Group. Though he has since published his “Vikings of the Sunrise”, which was intended for the general reader, he has continued to accumulate specialised material relating to Raro tonga and its sister islands.

This project, which will take the form of a study of the arts and crafts of the Cook Islands, is now nearing comple tion in Hawaii, where Dr. Buck is Direc tor of the Bishop Museum. It has been his aim to apply to material culture some of the scientific principles used in the natural sciences. Artifacts that were made with native tools have been selected as type specimens, and the loca tion of the specimen will be given for the information of students.

Dr. Buck has been culling the large collection of photographs in the Museum for illustrations.

Mr. Charles Nelson, one of the pioneer prospectors of Papua, died in Port Moresby Hospital recently, after a short illness. He was 72. Born in Nor way, “Charlie” Nelson went to Papua in 1906 and during his long period there made many gold-seeking trips which covered most of the Territory.