War club from Fiji. A large paddle-shaped club, decorated overall with small carved zig-zags (tava-tava) and straight lines. On label: 'War canoe paddle New Guinea lent by Miss Lowe'. Very faint, hand-written paper label attached, which reads: 'New Zealand War paddle ... Commander Willoughby Shortland RN Lieutenant Governor...' Willoughby Shortland (1804-1869) was acting Lieutenant Governor of New Zealand between the death of Willam Hobson and the arrival of Robert Fitzroy. Alternatively, the item may have been collected by Commander Frederick Willoughby Shortland (1853-1931), who served as a midshipman in HMS 'Basilisk' under Captain John Moresby, during hydrographic surveys in the Pacific in the 1870s. 'Basilisk' was in the vicinity of Rotuma Island, Fiji on 1 June 1872.