FROM PRISON TO MUSEUM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 10 February 1908, Page 1

FROM PRISON TO MUSEUM.

"At last, says the "Post," the Government has awakened to a sense of duty regarding the National Museum. Repeatedly "The Post" has pointed out the, drab and sad lookins^building that wag made todoMutyr infjiffigeum-street. There the'borer-'haaT "Its- wa£, and the rain came in to destroy the things which the gnawer spared. On Tuesday the Cabinet decided to ask the Public Works Department to report on the suitableness of the Mount Cook Barracks for conversion into a "Dominion Museum," and it is not anticipated that there will be any difficulty in al-.. tering the structure to make it able t io properly house the treasures' that blush mostly unseen in the old Colonial' Museum. That mountain has had a. 'quaint history. Years ago the visitor: to the port, when he was half-way *"np f the harbour, had his eye caught. 'by- .'.a. plain brick building, blaring upon th's' most conspicuous site in Wellington, and he was inclined to harshly judge the city when informed that th» pile was to be a gaol. Better sense came to the founders, and the prison project was abandoned. Next, an aU tempt was made to secure the building for university purposes, but the friends of education failed... Lastly there was a strong demand for a 'portion of the reserve for a technical education college, and again educationists were . defeated. ■: iTharei. is no reason why they should not renew the fight, for the change of the barracks into a good museum should strengthen their case. .The grounds will need attention; at present they are mostly bleak and naked, and cry out for derent clothing with shrub and'- tree. There is abundance of prison labour available to make Mount Cook a place where the people would be glad to go for an hour's recreation.