VALUABLE RECORDS GIVEN TO MUSEUM

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28257, 20 April 1957, Page 12

VALUABLE RECORDS GIVEN TO MUSEUM

Four additions of considerable value have been made to the Canterbury Museum’s collections of Canterbury manuscripts and photographs Three are additions to family collections already held by the museum. “This last fact suggests a firm confidence in the museum as trustee for these relics,” the librarian (Mr J. C. Wilson) reported to the Museum Trust Board.

A very important collection of water-colours, photographs, and documents of the Enys brothers has been received on loan from Mr K. A. Webster, London. The Enys brothers, after a short period of ownership of Orari Gorge, bought Castle Hill station in October, 1864, and it is with this part of Canterbury that the collection is mainly concerned. Many Photographs

The collection of photographs is large, and ranges as widely afield as the Chatham Islands and the West Coast. It includes prints of Dr. Barker’s early Christchurch Of special historical importance are the large groups of photographs of the Castle Hill and surrounding back-country area, and a smaller collection of early Hokitika and Ross. The journal of John Enys has been held in the museum for many years. ' Papers of Professor A. W. Bickerton have been presented by Mr H. W. Bickerton and Mr. R. M. Burdon. Bickerton was the first professor to be appointed and take up duties at Canterbury University College. His chief love was his partial impact theory, which he believed explained the birth of new stars. The papers presented are chiefly concerned with his impact theory. Of especial interest are the letters addressed to Bickerton by Ernest Rutherford.

Included among the relics of John Robert Godley and Charlotte Godley bequeathed to the museum by Miss Frances Godley are two photographs, one of Charlotte Godley in her late years, and one of Godley. There are also a pencil drawing of Charlotte Godley reproduced in her “Letters from Early New Zealand” published in 1951, and an oil painting of her son Arthur at the age of two. Arthur, who was in Canterbury with his parents, later became the fifist Lord of Kilbracken.

Barker Collection A large and valuable collection of Dr. A. C. Barker’s photographs has been presented by Mrs T. D. Barker to the Canterbury Pilgrims’ and Early Settlers’ Association for the Canterbury Museum. The photographs, many of them Dr. Barker’s original prints from his own negatives, comprise a remarkable record of people, buildings, and scenery in the early days of Canterbury and especially of Christchurch. The gift also includes a book of newspaper clippings of letters written from 1854 onward by Dr. Barker to the local newspapers. Mrs T. Barker has also lent a

framed set of Dr. Barker’s original pen drawings showing the deck of the Charlotte Jane, the interior of Studdingsale Hall, a view of Lytteltori from the Bridle Path in December, 1851, and a view of Lyttelton from the deck of the Charlotte Jane. “The museum has been fortunate to acquire recently the original deed of contract between William Sefton Moorhouse, Superintendent of Canterbury, anH George Holmes and Edward Richardson for the construction of the railway 'and tunnel between the City of Christchurch and the town of Lyttelton. It is dated April 2, 1862. This document is of general historical interest and will be placed on display,” said z Mr Wilson.