CANTERBURY’S MUSEUM

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27204, 23 November 1953, Page 3

CANTERBURY’S MUSEUM

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE URGED ANNUAL REPORT OF FRIENDS “It is a sobering reflection that the Canterbury Museum, restricted as it is, remains almost the only institution in Christchurch which makes available to the public anything like a general picture of the wonders of the universe. To assist the development and widen the scope of such an institution is a compelling duty for all,” says the president (Mr G. C. C. Sandston) in his report to be presented to the ninth annual general meeting of the Association of Friends of the Museum on December 1.

“Reviewing the year’s activities as a whole and in particular the gratifying increase in membership [from 282 to 386 in one year] it can fairly be said that the association is carrying out its principal function Of stimulating public interest in, and support for, the Cariterbury Museum,” says Mr Sandston. “There are many citizens interested in the museum who can through the medium of our association play a far more active part in assuring its welfare that they could if membership of the association was not available. It is the hope and intention of the association to preserve and foster this important role which has unlimited possibilities for good.” Mr Sandston says that the association assisted actively with the appeal for funds for the new wing of the museum. About 1600 letters had been sent out by the association and assistance had been given in many other ways. Apart from the £3OO which the association gave recently to the museum building fund. 5000 brochures on the proposed new wing at a cost of £l4B had been given. A great need had been felt for some time for a diogrammat’c pamphlet setting out details of the new building. In addition the association had bought and presented to the museum for the supi of £l9 a Victorian walnut settee which was needed for a period set. The association hoped that from time to time it would be able to purchase for

the museum items and exhibits which it needed for its collections. “The principal activity of the association during the year was the series of lectures given on English art subjects,” says Mr Sandston. “These lectures aroused great interest. They were arranged because it was felt that there was a need in the community for synoptic lectures on various aspects of the English fine arts. That this was so appears to have been proved by the large number of people who attended and enjoyed the lectures. There are many evidences of English traditions in this country and many people are interested in those traditions, but the coherent background which the pioneers possessed has been steadily fading. In a small way the lectures may have helped to consolidate some of *heSe traditions. Some such consolidation would appear to be a necessary oreliminary to the development of a culture of our own, which almost certainly must be based on English models.”-