Museum Holiday Plan “Howling Success”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30130, 14 May 1963, Page 15

Museum Holiday Plan “Howling Success”

The schr jl holiday educational programme at the Canterbury Museum had begun as a “howling success,” the assistant education officer. Mr A. M. Eyles, reported yesterday. Almost 250 children had poured into the lecture hall in nine minutes after the doors were opened, and 30 or more youngsters had unfortunately had to be turned away because of lack of accommodation, T .r Eyles said.

“This is the first time we have organised such a programme, but it will almost certainly be repeated if this response continues.” he said. Yesterday’s lectures and films, on the entomology of Antarctica, were presented by Mr J. Mather, of the Teachers’ College, and Mr K. Wise, of the American Science Foundation, who have been doing field work in Antarctica. Films were supplied by the United States Antarctic Support Force headquarters.

Today’s programme will be on astronomy, stamps and coins on Wednesday, birds on Thursday, and New Zealand archeology on Friday.

Asia Week will provide the theme for the story hours at the children’s branch of the Canterbury Public Library each Tuesday and Friday during the school holidays. Folk tales and fairy tales from many Asian countries will be read to children between four and 10 years of age. Displays of Asian books and other material will be prepared at the library. The story hours will be from 11 a.m. to midday, and the first session this morning has already been booked out. The children’s librarian Miss A. Just, said yesterday that the story hours were directed particularly at children who did not already belong to the library and would be encouraged to join it through the holiday activities.

A similar programme has been arranged at the Burwood branch of the library. A special holiday programme from May 13 to May 17 has been arranged by the Christchurch Young Men's Christian Association for members and their friends. The mornings will be devoted to gymnastics—four mornings for practice and the fifth morning for tests. In the afternoons, the boys will be able to take in games, relays, and various competitions. Films will also be shown. All activities will be held at the Y.M.C.A rooms, Oxford terrace.