GIFTS TO MUSEUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21110, 18 February 1932, Page 7

GIFTS TO MUSEUM.

RECORD NUMBER FOR YEAR. MANY INTERESTING EXHIBITS. A total of 652 new exhibits were added to the Auckland War Memorial Museum last year, an increase of 121 over the previous year's record number of 531, according to a report presented at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum. A total of 52 gifts have been received since the' beginning of this year. A large grindstone from the Chatham Islands has been presented by Mr. S. H. Henderdone; stone adzes by Mrs. Allen; an old burial chest from the \Yhangaroa district, by Sir. E. Taylor; a wooden vessel by Sir. W. B. Ifrice, of Christchurch; and a Samoan club by Mr. G. 1). Husband. The ethnographical section lias received a fine stone canoe anchor from Mr. J. K. Sanderson, Tibetan banners from Mrs. F. E. Foster, archaeological specimens from Nurse Ballard, and a fine series of Egyptian articles of the period of Tut-Ankh-Amen from the Egyptian Exploration Society. A very welcome addition is the film, "Moana of the South Seas." which has been presented bv the Paramount Film Service, Limited, as a permanent record of an interesting set showing the use of the cinema in the aid. of ethnography. Other important accessions are a large collection of Malayan silver bowls and other vessels, deposited by Sirs. Alma Baker, and a set of table silver from Mrs. Stocker.

The European arts section has received silver spoons from Captain G. HumphreysDavies, a Sheffield plate candle-snuf-fers and tray from Mr. Ford, a handwoven blanket, made by Mr. Matthew Fowlds on an old hand loom, from Mrs. R. Jamiesori, and a model of the fourmasted barque Indore from Captain \V. Carey. A proclamation in English, German and Samoan by the colonel commanding the Samoan occupying force in 1914, has been presented to the wa r section by Mr. Gordon S. Butler, and a set of chronicles of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces by Mr. 'J'. F. Grey. The accessions to the botanical department include a considerable collection of ferns, presented by Mr. J. Atwood, timber specimens from Mr. B. C. Beck, and a collection of plants from the Liverpool Museum.

Other important gifts include a large collection of rare ornaments in silver and cloisonne, deposited bv Mrs. Alma Baker ; an ancient Burmese manuscript, some scarabei, an Egyptian necklace, and a number of carved wooden figurines, illustrating various phases of native Indian life, presented by Miss Yates; and a specimen of pink coral from Cape Brett, given by ihs. Pi Cross.