WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 14

WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

ADDITIONS TO COLLECTION.

PF.ARL FOUND IN COCKLE. REARRANGEMEMT OF LIBRARY. •*r Included among tlir articles received by I lie War Memorial Mn.i?um during (lie [iast mouth was a conunun cockle, containing a pearl, which was presented liy Mrs. M ount, of Devonnoit. TFie curator. Mr. Gilbert' Archev, reported to (lie council yesterday that this was befieved to he the first record of a pearl in the cockle. Tim Maori collection had again received valuable additions, and other •ethnographical articles comprised curios from North America, China, the Malay Peninsula, and the Solomon Islands. The curator reported that the rearrangement of the library had been completed, and the departmental sections wero now being subdivided. Mr. J. Kclidcrdino had made a gift of all the New Zealand books in his own library which were not in the museum collection, and had been frequently attending in order tc go through the catalogues concerned. "When Mr. Kenderdine's gift, which comprised 1000 volumes and pamphlets, was incorporated in the museum library, the iristituto would possess an extremely valuablo and important collection of IScnv Zealand literature. A motion expressing the appreciation of the council was carried unanimously. The curator reported that ho had received quotations from two English firms for tho supply of the bronzo frames for eight desk-cases and two wall-and-desk cases, which were required to house further collections. Ho had previously inquired for quotations locally, but found that no firm was able to supply the. necessary bronze castings. The frames could be imported and the glazing and wooden furnishing could bo carried out in Auckland. The lowest lender was £566, including duty and exchange. On the recommendation of the curator, this tender was accepted by the council. A proposal to place two boxes at the pillars flanking the Hall of Memories, for the reception of voluntary contributions to bo devoted to the assistance, of returned soldiers or their next-of-kin, was adopted, and it was also decided to place a carved wooden food-bowl near tho main entrance of the museum for tho rccoptiou of contributions toward maintenance) of tho building. The curator suggested that there should bo soino permanent memorial to the lato Mr. T. F. Chcesemun, tho first curator of the Auckland Museum. Tlo thought tho situation would tic suitably met if an annual pnzo of £5 were provided for a natural history essay competition, open to the pupils of secondary schools. This would also further the educational work being carried on by the museum. Members agreed that it would be desirable to try the experiment, for a year, and it was decided to investigate, the possibilities of setting aside a capital sum to assure tho payment of the prize.