WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 12

WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

THE OPENING CEREMONIES

FULL LIST DRAWN UP.

R.S.A. AND MEMBERS' RECEPTION

Arrangements for (he opening of the Auckland War Memorial Museum threo weeks honco were carried a stage further by the council of tho Auckland Institute and •Museum yesterday. The council docided io approve an evening reception for members of (ho instituto on the opening day, in spite of protest by (ho Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association.

The opening ceremonies will extend ovor (wo days, and will include four separate functions, as follows:—•. Thursday, November 28.—Afternoon: Cenotaph to bo dedicated by Archbishop Avoriltf museum building to bo opened by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, and handed ovor by tho War Memorial Committee to tho Mayor of Auckland and tho Auckland Institute; deceased soldiers' next-of-kin and returned soldiers, to a maximum number of 5000, to be admitted after the opening. Evoning.—Private view for members of the Auckland Institute, as guests of the president, Mr. H. E. Vaile, and Mrs. Vaile, tho Governor-General to bo present and speak. Friday, November 29.—Morning: Maori ceremonies outside and insido the museum, including dedication of the houso Hotonui, Maoris only to be admitted to tho building. Afternoon.—Private view for subscribers to the war memorial building fund. Evening.—Museum to be open to the public until about, nine o'clock. Saturday, November 30.—Tho museum to be open morning, aftern6on and evening. The Maori Ceremonies. Regarding tho Maori ceremonies, it was stated at yesterday's meeting of tho council that somo 80 chiefs and their wives, from all parts of tho Auckland Province, would attend as tho guests of tho institute. Through tho courtesy of the Auckland Racing Club they would be provided with quarters in the racecourse buildings at Ellcrslie, the institute being responsible for meals. The arrangements for the ceremony were in tho hands of the Akarana Maori Association. It was agreed that as many local natives would also wish to bo present, and the space in the Maori court was limited, no Europeans shoufd bo admitted to the ceremony within the building. * With regard to subscribers to the war memorial fund, it was decided to provide 1800 tickets for the private view on the aftornoon of Novembor 29, and to issue a goneral invitation to subscribers to apply in writing for tickets. It.was mentioned that tho subscription lists had been preserved, and applications would be checked accordingly. It was also decided to write to the Mayor of Auckland, endorsing the proposal that citizens should be invited to observe the opening day as a half-holiday. Alleged "Desecration," A lettor was received from the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association, enclosing a copy of a letter from the association to the president, Mr. Vaile, protesting ggarnsfcthe proposed evening reception on the opening day, and stating that it was considered to be a desecration. The association asked for tho council's support in its protest. Mr. Vaile remarked that since the date of the letter the association had asked for 5000 admission tickets for use by its members on tho opening day. Mr. A. T. Pycroft: But the reception is only a personal invitation to members to view the building. Professor H. W. Segar; The association has probably misunderstood the position and thinks it is a jollification.

Mr. A. G. Lunn: "Desecration" is altogether too strong a word to use. Mr. Lunn suggested that a reply should bo sent, pointing out that returned soldiers and next-of-kin were to be given the place of honour on the opening day, as was their due, and 5000 of them would be admitted to the museum that afternoon, before any other section of the community. He felt that, in view of this fact, the association would not object to a similar function in the evening for members of tho Auckland Institute.

Mr. F. M. Waters said that he had had a conversation with a prominent member of the association about the matter,, and after he had explained the position the other appeared to be satisfied. Mr. Waters thought the association had got a wrong idea of the position. Mr. Vaile, who had previously said that he would like to leave the decision in other hands, remarked that he had been a member of the council for 17 years, and as the opening of the new museum was the climax of many years' hard work, he and Mrs. Vaile. had thought it an occasion that should bo marned in some way. It was decided to reply in the terms suggested by Mr. Lunn. . RELICS OF THE NAVAL GUNS ON TERRACE. The war trophies' section of the War Memorial Museum has received a number of additions recently, und steps are'being taken to build it up still further. Ifc was reported to the council of tho Auckland Institute and Museum yesterday that Major. G. R. Hutchinson had presented his valuable collection of. French war posters, as well as documents and trophies. Tho Rev. -W. W. Averill and I)r. L. A. Averill had given a collection covering a wide range and including a variety of automatic and magazine pistols. Mrs. Hulmo had given the collection made by her son, the .late Sergeant George Hulme. A sectional- aeroplane bomb had been • presented by the Rev. W. W. Averill, and a delay-action mine fuse by Lieutenant 11. _A. de- Lai our. A series of sketches made in tho field had been deposited by the artist, Sir. I 'A Lloyd The curator, Mr. G. Arc-bey, stated in Ins report: In order to improve the war display, particularly that illustrating New Zealand's participation, I recently visited Wellington. I was given ovory help bv Major-General Young and the General Headquarters staff, and several interesting exhibits worn made available, including .tho complote uniform and equipment of a Now Zealand infantryman, and certain weapons. It has also beon possible to arrange for t.ho mounting of two 4in. guns from H.M.S. New Zealand on the front terrace."

The council decided 1o enter into negotiations for the purchase of an enlarged panoramic photograph, showing transports of the Main Body coaling at llobart iu October, 1914.