MUSEUM SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23274, 17 February 1939, Page 13

MUSEUM SCHEME

EXPEDITION'S QUEST

NEW ZEALAND HALL KEW YORK UNDERTAKING UNIQUE DISPLAY PLANNED XJniquo in method and fully comprehensive in scope, the story of New Zealand through the ages is to be told in a special hall of the American Museum of Natural History, New York. Details of the proposals, which are exacted to require two or three years before they can bo brought to full fruition,- were announced last night by Mr. Michael Lerner and Dr. W. K. Gregory, leader and scientist respectively of the expedition at present visiting the Dominion under the auspices of the museum.

The expedition had come to the Dominion for a two-fold purpose, Dr Gfegory explained. One aim was to obtain classifications of big-game fishes, B ud the other was to seek material for the proposed New Zealand Hall, which was to occupy the whole of the second floor in the new million and a-half dollar building shortly to be 'erected for the museum. As a result, members of the' party had set themselves industriously to the task of gaining a broad idea of the general cliar"acteristics ,of the country and its people. Perspective of the Ages "We do not propose that the hall should show a few exclusive features of Jsew Zealand; rather will it reveal the . whole of the country along the perspective of the ages,!' he stated. "To do this we plan to tell the story as 'The Seven Ages of New Zealand. 5 " The first stage would tell how the Dominion came into existenco and how ; it was modelled by earth forces, while the second would reveal her appearance and characteristics before the arrival of man. A general view would bo presented of the country's natural history, notable for the fact that, due to ; its isolated position, it was protected frora many forms of life which had devastated other parts of the world. Mammals had been absent, except for a couple of harmless bats, and it was a land of birds, living fossils and marine life. A Place for the Maoris The third chapter would be concerned with the peopling of New Zealand. The adventures of the famous Polynesian : navigators would be described, and in the story of the succeeding tribes the history and characteristics of the Maori people would be featured. They would f try to stress the good humour, subtlety and high intelligence of the Maoristraits which they had seen in their descendants to-day. " In the next section we will deal with the coming of the white man, the growth of settlement, the colonial wars and the tragic wiping out of all but a fraction of the Maori race," Dr. Gregory said. "Then will be shown the rise of orderly government, and the steady advance of the'country to a prominent place among 'the Dominions of the British Empire. In the final section we will reveal New Zealand's position in the family of nations —a beautiful land of plenty that , is the Great 'Britain of the southern seas. We want to exhibit life-size portraits of the New Zealanders themselves aiiid to stress their "contributions to international goodwill and productiveness." Co-operatioa in Dominion In order to attain this ideal, members. of the expedition had met many people, including Government officials, museum authorities and prominent ' citizens. All had co-operated freely, and so far there had not been a single dissenting note against the plan to make Xew Zealand better known to Americans. It was essential to secure tlio material before the now museum building was completed and this was being undertaken strictly under the supervision and with the approval of the New ; Zealand Government and the local ; " museum authorities. ~ "The New Zealand Hall will be the equivalent of a permanent exposition for New Zealand," Dr. Gregory added. "The scheme is regarded as being of very great importance to the Dominion by many Government officials whom wo have met." '