MIXED PLEASURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 7

MIXED PLEASURE.

OLD COLONISTS' MUSEUM.

SCHEME FOR REARRANGEMENT

Visiting the Old Colonies' Museum is recognised by the officials of the museum as a. not unmixed pleasure. Although the steady increase in the number of visitors is taken as a remarkable trlbnf.i to the appeal which it makes to citizenit ib pointed out that because of the poor provision for the display of th, exhibits the walls of the museum me covered with pictures from floor to ceiling, mid the bhow cases are crowded beyond reason. When suitable rooms are made availii bio it will be possible to displuy the collection ol pictures and relics of the. pioneer days ol city and province in a satisfactory manner, the director, Mr. •I. IJarr, believes. Instead of the "old curiosity shop" methods at present in vogue, it will h<; possible to show the exhibits in a way more in harmony with present-day ideas. This is the scheme in M>\ Barr's mind: Instead of placing the objects in cases, as is done now, all articles relating, eay, to the kitchen, would be brought together and placed in mi alcove, in the manner in which they would be placed in an old time kitchen. The museum already has \arioue liivplacei*, fire irons, household utensils, crockery, furniture and miscellaneous things such as bed warmers and eandln moulds. All that would be required Mould be to arrange them in their original imd practical way. "In this way," Mr. Bnrr has suggested to the City Council, "the niiiKciun would become increasingly attractive nnd iU educational value increased beyond computation. Ar with the kitchen, drnwiiirooms and bedrooms could b« «et up in similar fashion. "But to do this, space is required, nnd that in what in lurking at. the iiiouieni."