AUCKLAND MUSEUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 123, 27 May 1930, Page 11

AUCKLAND MUSEUM.

MANIFOLD ACTIVITIES. REPORT OF INSTITUTE. "GENEROUS PUBLIC SUPPORT." The outstanding success -which has attended the manifold and rapidly-grow-ing activities of the Auckland Institute and Museum is emphasised in the report of the council for 1929-30, the first issued since the institute made its home in the magnificent war memorial building in the Outer Domain. The report, which deals with the sixty-second year of the institute's existence, will be presented at the annual meeting to-morrow.

Referring to the opening of the War Memorial Museum by Sir Charles Fergusson on November 28, the report says that the ceremony, together with the dedication of th 3 Cenotaph and court of honour by Archbishop Averill, "not only formally established a shrine and memorial to the service and sacrifice offered during the Great War, and set apart a splendid building devoted to public education and cultural recreation, but also inaugurated for the Auckland Institute and Museum a new era of activity in the advancement of knowledge and the prosecution of scientific and historical research." Tribute to Founders.

A tribute is paid to the work of the Citizens' War Memorial Committee, lately disbanded, special thanks being tendered to the successive chairmen, Sir James Gunson and Mr. . Alfred S. Bankart; the hon. treasurer, Mr. V. J. Larner; the hon. secretaries, Messrs. William Elliot, C. V. Houghton and C. R. Ford, and the members, for their sterling public service. The institute's congratulations and appreciation are offered to the architects, Messrs. Grierson, Aimer and Draffin, and to the contractors, Messrs. Hansford and Mills. The report mentions with regret the deaths of Mr. J. H. Upton, a member since 1868, twice president, and a trustee and member of the council at the time of his death; of Mr. V. Miller, also an ex-president; of the last remaining . foundation member, Mr. H. B. Morton; and of three benefactors, Mr. John Marshall, Dr. C. E. R. Bucknill and Mr. S. J. Anibury. The receipts for the year totalled £9062, including a first contribution of £5700 from the supporting local bodies, £1686 from invested funds and £682 from members' subscriptions. The expenditure, £16,744, was exceptional, inasmuch as it included a number of nonrecurring items, such as £7477 for floor coverings and furniture, and other items which will be much reduced in future years. On the other hand, the charges for salaries, maintenance of building, insurance, publications and school service were less than in a normal year. The statement shows a credit of £2089, against which there are liabilities amounting to £571. The invested funds at the end of the year were £27,974.

Six public and three ordinary meetings of the institute were held in the course of the year, and at the public meetings lectures were delivered by Mr. R. A. Falla, Mr. D. Brown, Mr. E. G. Jones, Dr. T. J. Hughes, Dr. W. A. Fairclo.ugh and the Rev. H. K. Archdall. A number of meetings were held by the astronomical,.; agricultural science and anthropology and Maori race sections;"' Many Gifts Received. "Much generous public support in the extension and improvement of the museum collections has-to be acknowledged," states the report. "We hate received 480 gifts and have recorded no less than eight additions to our roll of major benefactions and other gifts of considerable interest and importance have been received." A tribute is paid to the director, Mr. Gilbert Archey, and his staff, by whose willing and sustained efforts over 20,000 specimens were dealt with and put into their allotted places. The help of a number of persons outside the museum staff is acknowledged. The work in the Maori court included the reconditioning and erection of the large house Hotonui. A number of storage cases and cupboards have been erected and progress is now being made with the systematic arrangement of the extensive study and research collections. The library of the institute is now housed in the top floor of the museum and rearrangement and cataloguing are in progress. The recorded attendances of the public in December were 60,116, and since the New Year the number of visitors has been well maintained. The weekly average in the school holidays was 8000 and thereafter it remained steadily at 5000.