Local History Museum Planned For Akaroa

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30211, 16 August 1963, Page 14

Local History Museum Planned For Akaroa

The establishment of a Banks Peninsula museum, which will concentrate on the European and Maori history of Canterbury’s oldest settlement, is nearing completion. The director of the Canterbury Museum. Dr. R. S. Duff, recommended to the museum’s trust board yesterday that full support be given to the organising committee of the project.

Eteveneaux House in Akaroa had been restored after many years of work by interested people, and would become a historic house museum, to be known as the Akaroa Museum, said Dr. Duff.

The Mayor of Akaroa. Mr Robert Bruce, and the Akaroa Centennial Committee had begun the effort, and a committee under Mr G. P. A De Latour had organised the project. A permanent authority had now been et up. representing the counties of Akaroa. Watrewa and Mount Herbert, the National H’ • tone Places Trust and the Canterbury Museum Trust Board. The authority has been named the EteveneauxLangiots House Board, and Mrs A. J- Brown, of Akaroa. has been apponted custodian.

A wide public appeal is to be made for early furniture associated with the French settlement, costume and domestic effects of the farming settlers, early photographs and paintings of local interest and Maori relics of all periods. A special feature will be made of the cocksfoot and cheese industries which were get up in the settlement last century Photographs, firearms and militia uniforms already in the authority's possession will be catalogued by the Canterbury Museum, advice on furnishing and ?t££ase layout will also be given. For the opening ceremony at the Akaroa Museui.i the Canterbury Museum will display a selection of the wellcollection of Banks Peninsula Maori artifacts, over a lifetime by Mr Louis J. Vangiom, of

Akaroa. On his death in 1951 the collection was presented to the Museum.

A changing selection of the collection will continue to be made available to Akaroa on loan.

The Canterbury trust board yesterday commended the appeal for exhibits, asking that donors notify the Akaroa County Clerk so that exhibits may be inspected for suitability.