GIFTS TO MUSEUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21934, 18 October 1934, Page 17

GIFTS TO MUSEUM

NATURAL HISTORY SECTION MAORI RELICS PRESENTED ATTENDANCES DURING YEAR Donations of several exhibits to the War Memorial Museum were acknowledged by the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum yesterday. The director, Mr. G. Archey, reported that there had been 38 accessions Bince the last meeting, bringing the total for the year to date to 368. Mr. Archey said there had been two natural history accessions of more than ordinary importance. A large collection of orchids and other native plants, made by the late Mr. H. B. Matthews, had been presented by his sons, Messrs. It. B. and G. Matthews. Another large collection of New Zealand, Norfolk Island and Hawaiian molusca had been presented by Mr. N. H. Goulstone, of Onehunga, some of the specimens being now extinct. The Maori collection had been enriched by the gift of a large block of greenstone by Mr. J. S. Wilson. Maoris had essayed to carve it for various purposes, and, in addition te being a fine piece of stone, it showed most interesting methods of cutting. Mr. W. Pulham had presented greenstone and stone adzes, an ivory autiu and Te Kooti's signature, while Mr. Wi Whangaroa Hapeta, of Hokianga, had presented an old specimen of an exceptionally small canoe paddle, apparently made for a phild. Mr. Archey also reported that attendances since the last council meeting had totalled 10,636, a weekly average of 2659. The attendances for' the year to date totalled 120,996. The annual Cheeseman Memorial native spring flower show had again proved very_ successful and had been visited by 5991 people. There were 95 children's entries, and the exhibition had been most capably arranged and managed by Miss L. M. Cranwell, botanist at the museum.