CANTERBURY HISTORY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15257, 18 March 1910, Page 8

CANTERBURY HISTORY.

AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.

Some little time ago, at the request of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, a movement was set on foot for the collection and placing in the Museum of hooks, documents, letters, pictures and other records having reference to and illustrating the oldtime history of the Canterbury province. A committee of citizens and members of the Board was appointed and the work was entered on with much zeal and success. The committee has opened up communication with the representatives of the original members of the Canterbury Association, with, a view to endeavouring to obtain copies or originals of photographs or documents bearing upon the early history of Canterbury.

Letters have been received expressing sympathy with the object, and it. is expected that some valuable and interesting material will bo available. Tho various religious bodies and private individuals have been communicated with, asking for reoords of the early days, and already a large number of donations have been received. Mr James Jlay, himself a member of a family which settled here some years priqr to tho arrival of the First Four Ships, lias been most successful in getting together a very interesting collection of portraits, dating back to 1844. Mrs John Deans has also kindly sent some very valuable records, pictures, pamphlets, e'tc., and has promised more.

The work of collecting and housing the acquisitions is one which cannot be properly and efficiently carried out without the expenditure of money. The Board of Governors of the College has only been able to aid by a vote of £SO, which is quite' inadequate, and the committee has been advised that no further grant can‘be made. Under the circumstances the committee confidently appeals to the people of Canterbury to aid in this important work by subscribing towards the cost. It especially claims the assistance of old colonists and of their relatives and friends in the efforts which are being made to establish a collection which will form a permanent historical record of the,early days of this portion of the dominion.

Subscriptions and suitable donations may be forwarded to the Canterbury Museum, addressed to Air R. Speight, Assistant Curator, the secretary to the committee.