MEMORIAL MUSEUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20569, 21 May 1930, Page 9

MEMORIAL MUSEUM.

SCOPE AND POLICY.

BRONZE WREATH FOR SHRINE.

LARGE PUBLIC ATTENDANCES

The report of a committee appointed to consider the seopo and policy of tlio museum was received at a meriting of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum yesterday It staled that though the museum was mainly one of natural history and ethnology a department of applied art would ho of great value. A department of technology would also ho of great value, hut it was considered at present to be impractical. The president, Mr. H. E. Vaile, stated that several collections had been willed to the museum that would bo of great assistance to the establishment of a do partment of applied art. Tho praf'Jont said that 110 official reply had been received from the City Council as to the laying out of the grounds surrounding the museum. The council decided to instil a thermostatic fire alarm at a cost of £197, tho alarm to connect directly with the firo brigade. Tho president stated that when the alarm was installed tho council would have adopted e.very recommendation of the Firo Board. It was decided to erect tho tripod and wreath in bronze, designed by Mr. It. 0. Gross, to complete the altar in the shrine, at a cost of £155. Tho directors' report stated 12,385 people visited the museum on Anzac Day and 139,007 had visited the museum sinco January 1. The Wedgwood Bicentenary Exhibition had been well attended by tho public, and over 40 residents had lent pieces. Appreciation of the work of Mr. Crowther, who had secured tho loan of several very fine pieces, and helped to identify and classify tho specimens, was expressed. Nominations were received for 11 new members of the institute, and Mr. T. 11. Michaels, a representative of the local" bodies, was welcomed to the council. ADDITIONS TO COLLECTIONS MANY INTERESTING GIFTS, GENEROSITY OF PRIVATE DONORS Additions to the War Memorial Museum collections during this year number 185, including 45 registered during May. The following presentations have been made: An unusually formed greenstone hei- ' tiki and an old bone toggle, from tho president, Mr. H. E. Vaile; a hoanga grindstone and a stone rubber, from Mr. 11. W. Bell, Coromandel: a stone top | and an adze found at Whakatiwai by the donor, Mr. Tamate Parauri; a carved canoe prow, from Mr. H. F. Wilkinson, Whakatane; a cawed calabash top, from Mr. H. Hamilton. A collection of very fine cloaks and old-time fighting kilts has been added to the George M. Graham deposit collection. Miss Keesing has presented a very finely-made piece of white tapa from Rotoma, and Bishop Anderson has given pieces of British and Roman pottery from Cacrwent, Wales. Mr. H. S. Dadley has presented to the Oriental section a beautiful example of intricate ivory carving* and a Japanese two-spouted vase has been given by Mrs. M. Taylor.

A valuable addition has been made to the war section by Mrs. 11. Moore-Jones r who has presented a folio of reproductions of the late Sapper Horace Moore-Jones' water colour paintings of Gallipoli. Another interesting addition is a series of letters written by Captain Simeon Busigny, Royal Marines, during Nelson's last cruise before Trafalgar. These have been deposited by Mr. G. H. Sadler., The shipping section has received a complete, scale model of the "Anna Lombard." made by the doner, Sir. Henry--11. Bootes. A most interesting addition to ths* natural history department is the curious mud-built nest of the Argentine ovenbird, which, together with specimens of the birds, has; 'been presented by ,Mr. A. S. Wilson, who has recently returned' from South America. A flamingo has been given by the Zoological Park, moa bones from near Feeding, by Mr. H. Kraiger, and Australian trap-door spiders nests by Mrs. P. S.* Oaten. An interesting geological specimen is a carefully-cut cubic foot of Coromandel granite, the weight of which,. 1741b., is greater by 91b. than a cubic foot, of British granite. It was presented byMr. R. R. Hunt, of Parriell. Bishop Anderson has given a series of' geological specimens, chiefly from Broken: Hill, New South Wales, and geological: specimens from Napier have been givenby Mr. W. B. Stewart. A collection of three Bornean head! hunters' swords has been given by Mr*. F. Carr, of Dunedin.

FLOOD-LIGHTING SCHEME,

CONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL,'*

Tiie question of lighting; the exterior of (he Auckland Museum at night, by means of flood-lights, was considered by the council in committee yesterday. Tho matter will be again discussed at a special meeting.