HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3056, 17 April 1917, Page 7

HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS

THE NATIONAL- COLLECTION,

Steady progress is being made by the Board of Science and Art in connection with the National Historical Collec•tion initiated by the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs. Though no very striking additions have been made to the collection since the gift of the Swainson CJollection, and the purchase of the Gordon Cojleotion, a steady response is being made to the appeal for gifts sent out by. the Minister. .'. '

They are very varied, these gifts, and already indicate on what broad and comprehensive. lines the National Collection will develop. Here, for instance, are i some anoient-plans of what is now a thriving modern centre: They are distinguished. by the delicate and Masterly draughtsmanship of one who in his day and-generation was facile princeps'in his profession—the late F. A. Carrington. ■ Mr'. Carrington is often alluded to as the ' 'Father °of New Plymouth," and the portrait which accompanies the plans shows the fine tjpe of head in whioh intellect and benevolence are eoually noticeable. Portraits and handicraft such as these render thV acquisition of that new library and art gallery which will form part of the Dominion Museum of the ruture'more desirable than ever.

From, another source—an aged and keenly-interested pioneer colonist, over ■90 years of age—comes a copy of the prospectus of the "Lyttelton Times," dated Angusfc, 1850, and a copy of the paper itself, dated .fanuary, 1831. Another still- more ancient and still more frail newspaper relic is a copy of the "Statesman," published in Fleet Street, London, and bearing date February ■ 26, 1815. Price 6Jd. This interesting old paper contains a lengthy note on the negotiations then proceeding with Prussia as to the status of Sazony, and was presented by a Wellington resident. ... ■ ■ . From another source has come an offer of a. set of photographs of our now well-known mountain and ■ lake scenery taken before man in the shape of- landscape gardeners attempted to create a foreground for the splendour of Nature. •■■'".