MUSEUM YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 116, 18 May 1936, Page 8

MUSEUM YEAR.

INSTITUTE'S REPORT.

APPRECIATION OF PUBLIC.

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

The appreciation of the public of Auckland of the services of the \y ar Memorial Museum is reflected, in the attendance figures for the past year totalling 140,951, as disclosed in the sixty-eighth annual report of the Auckland Institute and Museum, to be presented at the annual general meeting on May 27. The report shows, too, the contributions the institute and the museum are making to research and education in the community. Reporting on behalf of the council the president, Mr. .A. T. Pyeroft, records an institute membership of 541. The revenue, £8053, was approximately the same as last year, and again included generous donations for the acquisition of specimens. Expenditure, at £8257 was slightly less than the previous year! There was a slight improvement in both the amount of interest due ( £320) and subscriptions in arrears ( £54), but a further improvement was much to be desired. Professor A. P. W. Thomas chairman of the trust board, reports that the total invested funds now amount to £29,814.

"The council has continued its active advocacy of the preservation of native forest and the protection of native bird life," states Mr. Pycroft. "It lias also been especially concerned with the preservation of the native bush on Raimtoto Island and the maintenance of this reserve as a public domain." The full and active co-operation of members and citizens in the conference of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science, to be held in Auckland in January, is confidently anticipated. Mr. Pycroft notes the individual interest that is being taken by an increasing number of visitors to the museum, either in assisting with special exhibitions, in study, or in membership of clubs connected with the museum. Professor Thomas Congratulated. "Members will assuredly wish to join me in congratulating Professor Thomas on the completion of 50 years' membership of the Council and in expressing to him our appreciation of his long and distinguished services, not only to the institute, but also to science and education generally in the Dominion," states Mr. Pycroft. The director, Mr. Gilbert Archey, reports on the general administration of the museum. Ten scientific papers were completed during the year by the staff, 100 public lectures and broadcasts were given, and more than 3000 recorded inquiries answered. New cinema films and lantern slides were constantly being added to the collection, and their use by schools and societies was rapidly increasing. "It is obvious thai; only a beginning has been made in museum educational work," reports Mr. E. G. Jones. "All of the activities are capable of extension, some very considerably, and a good deal of new work suggests itself." Some new activities were added during the year, however. There were 33 museum cases and 12 boxes of specimens available "for distribution to schools,- those served ranging from Whangarei in the north to the Bay of Plenty in the south. School classes visited the museum to the number of 112, comprising 4891 children. Both these activities were capable of extension. Five children's clubs, with a total membership (limited) of G6, were in active operation. Blind Institute classes had attended the museum readily. The work of the various departments is reported on by Mr. Archey (astronomy, anthropology and Maori race, exhibition and botany), the assistant director, Mr. R. A. Falla (ornothology), Mr. A. W. B. Powell (conchology and palaeonotology), Mr. V. F. Fisher (ethnology), Mr. C. W. Firth (geology)) and Mr. M. C. Cleland (library).