VON HAAST PAPERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22637, 14 May 1948, Page 7

VON HAAST PAPERS

EXHIBITION PLANNED TURNBULL LIBRARY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 14. Having provided foundation material for a 1200-page volume which took 15 years to complete, the correspondence, diaries and journals of Sir Julius von Haast have been handed to the Turnbull Library by Mr. H. F. von Haast, chronicler of his famous father’s work. This valuable material is now being examined and the most notable parts will be exhibited in the library. Sir Julius was notable for the development of the Canterbury Museum which, in his time, was the best in New Zealand, if not in the Southern Hemisphere. Its eminence was brought about largely through the development by its director of the exchange system with museums in other parts of the world. Sir Julius was widely known as a scientist in many fields, particularly in geology, but his wide powers carried him into art and music as well. He was knighted by Queen Victoria and also by the Emperor of Austria and received many other distinctions. Mementoes of these are already in the Turnbull Library. The librarian, Mr. C. R. H. Taylor, said the library regarded the Haast archives as one of the most valuable collections in New Zealand. The library was more fortunate in getting it insofar as it already possessed the collection of Dr. Gideon Mantell, one of the earliest British geologists. He first popularised geology and could fill a hall with people paying 2s 6d to listen to him speak on it. His son came to New Zealand, where he became one of the early Ministers for Native Affairs. His grandson’s widow presented the Mantell collection which would be complemented by that of von Haast.