THE AUCKLAND MUSEUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4748, 3 February 1877, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND MUSEUM.

We are glad to hear that the Auckland Museum is well patronised by the public. There are from eighty to a hundred visitors every day, and on the Saturday afternoons the place is largely attended. There are always five or six persons diligently engaged studying the books formerly constitutui"the Provincial Council library. Altogether) we anticipate, when the new Museum, is somewhat better stocked, that the institution will be of very great public benefit. On this point, we understand that some additions of an attractive character are expected from Paris. Dr. Filhol, of the French Transit of Venus Expedition, remained in. New Zealand for some time, and, having credentials from the Museum at Paris, arrangements were made with him for exchanging. We asked for skins of birds from Europe, Asia, and North America, which are always attractive, and as the Paris Museum has a number of collectors out, the curator will doubtless be able to send what is wanted. It will be interesting to know what we gave in exchange, as showing what we have to give, and what European collectors wish most to get. The Auckland Museum sent to Paris, by desire o£ Dr. Klhol, a large number of Maori nkulls and a complete Maori skeleton, and these will be of great interest at present to European savants, when ethnology is a favourite speculation, and the Malay race is having its early history and migrations deeply considered. These skulls were mostly obtained from the caves in the volcanic hills of the Auckland district, which have been so prolific in this respect; not from the caves at the Three Kings, which have been pretty well ransacked, were these specimens obtained, but from caves at Mount "Wellington, in the hills by the TaMH, -.mi from caves on the EUerslie It has often been said that the b-■ ■•-; ""•■'-"■ carted from the caves in the lava i.~. rt-f Three Kings in order to make boced-.it :c: manure, but we believe that to be :i fjti.'. They were taken by curiosity-hiia;o:s tf satisfy the demands of science. It :i r.-.tU* curious that all our New Zealand i;ics2be, and scientific men were too late to --cct.-e ; " Maori head preserved in. the old style. Oit. readers will remember the lively fW'-'MUi given in " Old New Zealand :, of the tr:.di in heads in the early days, wi.c. were tatooed up to the proper point and decapitated, in order that the hea i mig-*: uc sold for exportation. That, however, is a "local industry " which is now extinct, ana Dr. Haast, of the Canterbury Museum, had actually to send to Europe and purchase one. However, what we can give to fcurope is not confined to Maori skulls. We have many unique birds and animals, illustrating the palioontology of Europe. We ougbt to remind country settlers that they may do much for the Auckland Museum by sending to it any curiosities which they may find in thsir neighbourhoods. Any articles sent to the Museum can.be used to exchange with European institutions, if not required fw car. own.