WANGANUI PUBLIC MUSEUM.

IMPORTANT MATTERS FOR ANNUAL MEETING. In tho report to be presented at the annu 1 meeting of members of the Wanganui Public Museum on Wednesday evening, the following interesting observations by the trustees appear: —The buildings and specimens have been kept in good repair, thanks to the good management of the Curator (Mr. H. W. Hesse) and the attendant (Mr. H. Gilbert). The Museum stands debt-free, with a credit of over £250 on deposit at the Bank of New Zealand. The post of secretary has been combined with that, of Curator —an arrangement that relieves Mr. Nixon of much routine work more easily transacted at the Museum. The lease of the Museum grounds from tho Borough falls in this year, and the trustees generally are of opinion that the present is an opportune time to ask the Council to take over the management of the institution. A larger and a fireproof building is required for the proper housing of ihe specimens. The value of these specimens cannot be properly assessed in money, but it, is certain that £10,000 would not replace the contents of the present wooden buildin •. It is suggested that with the growing importance of Wanganui a suitable building might well be erected to cover the needs of the Museum, the Library and tho .Sarjeant Art bequest. Xono of these institutions come to the Borough empty-handed, and the working expenses of qach would be curtailed by amalgamation. The whole question especially as ij^affects the Museum will be discussed at the annual meeting. The Curator, in his report, says: Repairs to the buildings have been necessary during the past year. The roof of the main hall required the skylights to be re-leaded, and the Lecture Hall needed attention to the timber over the entrance which had decayed. The buildings are now in sound condition and repair, but as in previous report* it is my duty to reiterate the necessity for additional space, and especially the erection of a fireproof building in which to house the more'valuable of the exhibits. In connection with this matter, it may be of interest to note that Dr. Brigham, in his lately published " Report of a Journey Around the World to study matters relating to useums," remarks: —"The Wanganui Museum is an example of a, fine collection of things almost impossible to replace kept in a very combustible building. Surely Nejv Zealand has more of these fire-traps, to her discredit, than any other country. How te it that, progressive New Zealand can remain so far behind other, I may say all other, nations in this matter of protecting from destruction by fire collections so valuable as these in this Museum?"

At the Board meeting of the ti-ust/vs held on the 22n<l of June, Mr. Alf. Willis gave notice of motion that he would move at the annual meeting, " That the time has arrived in the opinion of tho trustees, when the Museum should be handed over to the Borough Counc'l; that an opportunity be given niembor-s and those interested to thoroughly discuss the mattor on the loth of July, and that it be a recommendation to tho Borough Council that the Museum, Library and Sarjeant Art Gallery be combined in one good building."