CAWTHRON MUSEUM INTEREST MAINTAINED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 15 June 1940, Page 2

CAWTHRON MUSEUM INTEREST MAINTAINED

STILL BEING IMPROVED Interest in the museum of the In- 1 stitute continues to be maintained, j states the annual report of the Caw- , thron Institute. During the year, over i 1800 visitors have received personal at- j j tention from the Curator, this number : including not only those curing the i usual visiting hours, but also sixteen ; groups for whom special facilities were j arranged by appointment. Such par- \ ties included farmers, members of the j Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union ; and senior pupils from the Colleges and j other schools. Evidence of the continued popularity of the demonstra tions of the Institute's work given dur ing the Christmas holiday season was supplied by the high attendance in the museum and laboratories during December and January, when visitors from all parts of the Dominion numbered about 700. Within the limitations imposed by > ! available space, no effort has been | ! spared to make the museum as effec- j i tive as circumstances permit. New i i c pecimens are gradually replacing less j attractive ones, labelling is being J 1 steadily improved, and a striking new j feature has been added in the form of; j a Maori corner. With a panelled background bearing suitable mural decorations of Maori design executed by Miss L. Griffin, this illustrates in compact I form the arts and industries of the former inhabitants of the Tasman Bay , district —the first agriculturists of Nel- j j son. whose deserted kumera patches ! still provide some of the best soil of j ! the neighbourhood. ! For accessions to the collections, the j ! museum is indebted to Messrs A W. [ ! Wastney and F. V. Knanp (Nelson). F. I i O. Peat (Rotorua), and E. Kemp (Capej Runaway). all of whom contributed ethnological specimens to the Maori j corner. Very welcome examples of ! Maori agricultural implements and arti- 1 facts were provided on loan bv Messrs G. Field (Hope) and A. E. Field ( Stoke), while the Dominion Museum and Turnbull Library gave assistance m materials for wail illustrations, i Other accessions have been a set of; iron ore specimens from the Broken Hill Proprietary Co.. New South Wales. , and graptolites. and other fossils be- ! longing to this district from Professor Benson. Otago University. Work by the Curator on the illustration of the native flora of New Zealand has been continued as opportunity has offered, and in thi« as in every other sphere of the Institute’s activities, photography is furnishing an invaluable record for use in years to come Amongst other museum functions may ; be mentioned the identification of I botanical and mineral specimens. of ’ Nvhich a considerable number receives I attention each year.