THE MUSEUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 145, 21 June 1934, Page 3

THE MUSEUM.

RECENT ACCESSIONS. CONGRESS IN MELBOURNE. EXHIBITIONS AESANGED. "This institute fan always do with money in any quantity, and if any member knows of any lying loose during the next year and lets mq know about it I will report the matter to our financial adviser, Mr. H. E. Vaile, and he will see if we can attach it," said Sir Cecil Leys at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum, in returning thanks for his election as president.

A letter was received from the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science suggesting that the director, Mr. Archey, should attend its congress ill Melbourne next January. The letter stated that the succeeding congress would be held in Auckland in 1937, when the bulk of the organising work would be the responsibility of Mr. Archey. In the circumstances it would be most desirable that the director should attend the Melbourne meeting. It was decided to reply that the council hoped it would he possible to give effect to the proposal.

The council approved the following programme of special exhibitions to be held at the War Memorial Museum: — Natural history and yachting in Auckland, August 31 to September 10; children's natural history displays, for the Clieeseman memorial prizes, September 19 to 30; Clieeseman memorial spring flower show, October 0 to 15; decorative arts exhibition, October ID to November 18. The director reported that Sunday afternoon lectures in the museum library would be recommenced next month. Accessions. The following accessions to the museum were reported:—A long spade or ko, from Hokianga, presented by Mr. H. Anderson; a small piece of Maori carving, presented by Mrs. Moffat; a Japanese mariner's compass, presented by Mrs. Kenderdine, a china bowl given by the British Government to freed slaves in Jamaica in 1838; a Norwegian silver punch ladle, a lacquer carved box with cards and counters and the jgisignia of a Russian order, presented by Miss Stennett, of Rotorua; Australian war buttons and tokens, presented by Mr. E. Archer Olive; two swords from battlefields in Palestine, presented by Mr. Jack iloir.

In the natural history department accessions were:—Ait important collection of New Zealand and foreign mollusca, presented by Mrs. Eleanor Flinn; a case of spotted shags, presented by Mr. F. Earl, K.C.; foreign birds, presented by Mr. G. Rowland Hutchinson, Mr. W. J. Crowthcr and Mi-. F. Shepherd; a horn tail wasp found in a box of imported artificial silk hosiery, presented by Mr. Payne; a specimen of the squilla, an unusual type of crustacean found in Hobson Bay, presented by Mr. H. I). Buddie; tree geckos, presented by Mr. G. Redfern; important grass specimens from the West Coast Sounds, presented by Dr. H. 11. Allan.

Reporting on educational work, the director stated that to date 00 schools, comprising 2404 pupils, had attended the museum and 61 additional teachers had interviewed the education ofiicer. There had also been a visit by a party of overseas teachers. The council expressed the opinion that in the event of the Royal Society of New Zealand deciding to hold a science congress next year or the year after, it would be better to hold it in January rather than in May. It was decided to send a letter to Sir James Gunson, who has retired from the position of vice-president, expressing the council's appreciation of his services.