THE MUSEUM.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1457, 8 November 1911, Page 4

THE MUSEUM.

MR AUGUSTUS HAMILTON'S VISIT.

Mr Augustus Hamilton, director of the Wellington Museum, is at present on a visit to Palmereton at the request of the Manawatn Philosophical Society to help with tne arrangement of the mnseum on its transferanoe to the new room which has been acquired. Mr Hamilton told a Maoawatn Times reporter last evening, that he proposes to take a few days to ariange the specimens as far aB possible in some kind of sectional order, so that they may b3 seen to bstter advantage than in the old quarters, and at the stme time form a basis for enlarging the collections which may be at the same time interesting and instructive. Mr Hamilton points ont that a museum is very little use if it is merely a collection of curios jumbled together, aud however small it is, it is necessary to have some kind of definite arrangement, The present collection lends itself readily to a oertaiu amount of division, and when proieily divided, the curios will have co be properly labelled. This will take Borne time and will have to be done by the local authorities, but when completed the collection will present a vastly improved appearance. THE AGRICULTURAL SIDE. Mr Hamilton hopes that in a district like the Manawatn particular attention will be paid to collections whioh will be of agrionltural impottauce snob as collections of dried weeds, native plants, seeds aud other articles which may be obtained tending to assist the canse of agriculture generally. No doubt, added Mr Hamilton, provision will be made for the proper exhibiting of any local records that may be available, relating to the early days of the settle ment. NEED OFFIRE-PROOF HOUSING The new accommodation, Mr Hawiltou considers sufficient for the present, but the society should not rest until it can get brick premises, as it may be expending considerable care and* labour in gettiog together a collection, which may disappear in smoko and flame. "What is worth having is worth keeping," added Mr Hamilton, "and a mnseum should be housed iu a fire proof building." The lccal publio, he considers, have contributed wtll up to the present to the t mußeum, and ho hopes the new premises will act as an incentive to further contributions as it will euablo people to see what is wanting to uiako a more complete show in the various sections, where there are obvious deficiencies. Mr Hamilton, who is the guest of Mr Kenneth Wilson, will deliver a lecture under the cuspiceß of the society at the Mnuicipal [Hall on Friday eveniug.'his subject being "Arts and Crafts of the Maoris."