PIONEER RELICS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 13

PIONEER RELICS

Suggested Provincial

Exhibit

From time to time the Centennial branch of the Department of Internal Affairs received letters from correspondents in all parts of the Dominion indicating the whereabouts of interesting pioneer relics and suggesting that theybe utilized for local exhibitions during the period of the Centennial celebrations, stated a circular received from the branch by the Wellington Provincial Council yesterday. A good deal of thought had been given to this matter, and, in view of the widespread interest which was being evinced, it wag suggested that the council might consider arranging such exhibitions during Centennial year. It was known that in many countries overseas there were permanent collections, which were on display in cottages or houses of the period when the 'furniture and fittings were in use. Interest would 'be taken by the younger folk in an inspection of the out-of-date furniture, medical instruments, costumes, tools and implements which were used by their ancestors, and of early pictures and documents. Such displays had a direct appeal much more personal and universal than the academic interest which was evoked by the display of exhibits in a museum or ancient volumes in a library, or even rare pictures. The articles to be displayed would be those in common use, the ideal collection being one which would represent exhibits of historic interets and the worldly possessions of a pioneer family in the province or town where they lived. It might not be possible to get a complete collection together, but at any rate the effort entailed would assuredly be worth while, and, with later discoveries, might conceivably form the nucleus of permanent collections in which posterity would delight.