DOMINION MUSEUM

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 7

DOMINION MUSEUM

Historic Old Building Now Deserted FIRST CURATOR’S IDEALS Never very well adapted for the purpose, always, in modem memory, overcrowded, ill-lighted, and rather stuffy, the old Dominion Museum, in Museum Street, is now r an empty shell, awaiting an order which may mean its demolition. So will pass one of the first monuments (and a really significant) to the dawn of scientific achievement in this country. Actually this museum, called for many years the Colonial Museum, is a link between the present and the very early days. It was actually established in connection with the New Zealand Geological Survey away' back in 1860, so that it has outlived its three score years and ten. _ The museum owed its origin and importance to its first curator, Dr. James Hector, who remained in that position from 1865 to 1903, a term of thirty-eight years, during which he performed most valuable work for science in New Zealand. He was a very active man, and tirelessi when on his expeditious into new or little-known parts of the country. Mount Hector, in the Tararuas, is named after him, besides other places in New Zealand. He was also associated with the naming of Kicking Horse Pass in the Rocky Mountains of America. If there has been anyone connected with science in New Zealand who deserves to have his portrait in the permanent collection in the new National Art Gallery, it is the late Sir James Hector. Sir James was succeeded by the late Mr. Augustus Hamilton, of revered memory, who held the office of curator from 1903 to 1913. He, in turn, was succeeded by Dr. J. A. Thomson, who was curator from 1913 Io 1928, when the responsibilities were assumed by his able assistant, Dr. W. R. B. Oliver, the present curator, and a member of the board of trustees of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum.

Reporting in a document dated September 11, 1866, on the objects to be served by the founding of such

(Week-end Radio Programmes on , Page 24.)

stitution as the museum, Sir James (then Dr.) Hector said:—“One of the most important duties in connection .with the geological survey of a new country is the formation of a scientific piuseuni. the principal object of which is to facilitate the classification and comparison of the specimens collected in different localities during the progress of the survey. By this means only is a reliable basis obtained for a general system of geological nomenclature, the value, proof and application of which to tlie development of the country depend mainly upon the preservation of minutely recorded information respecting the history of individual specimens. In this respect a scientific museum differs from one intended only for the popular diffusion of natural science—the former being a record office from which typical or popular museums can be supplied with accurate information instructively arranged, an arrangement which would prevent them 'lapsing, as is too frequently the case, into unmeaning collections of curiosities. This division of museums into,two classes is now clearly recognised in England, and its adoption has been strongly recommended in the rearrangement of the natural history collections in the British Museum.