THE DOMINION MUSEUM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8653, 11 February 1914, Page 4

THE DOMINION MUSEUM

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.” Sir,—Apparently a little attention is being paid to the above, judging by a letter that appeared in your evening contemporary a few days ago, and the remarks made by the xn-csident of tho New Zealand Institute at its annual general meeting just held. From tho start the museum never it-ally had a show. No one seemed to think it necessary, if it was to liea i..»« where one could get instruction from' the contents, that a building suitable for tho purpose reqrtircd to be built of a, more durable material than wood. I fancy the reason for tho erection in wood of the original building and addition was duo to the fear of earthquakes, as all the pub 1a: buildings, erected about that time wore built of that material. Another reason, for the small amount of interest taken by the various Governments is that none of the Ministers under whose charge it was ever troubled their heads about it, and even the first director never worried the Government to have a new and up-to-date .building erected when tho addition: that was made ,to the original building got too; email for the purpose. The late tlirec-, tor was, to his credit, urging the con-1 struction of ,a new building, and one suitable to the Dominion, but he has passed away. I have reason to believe that the present Minister in charge has "good intentions,” and I have little doubt bur that out of the loan that Ims been just placed upon the Home market 1 a sum Sufficient, at all events, to erect a j»rtiou sufficiently large to house the exhibits in tho present building, and the rr:--i..! ,r ob; bo rate addition erected in corrugated iron, will be commenced, otherwise a new director would not have been appointed, as a mere caretaker would have been sufficient, as there would be no credit to any man. of . education ts take charge of a lot of valuable exhibits where they rould not be properly shown.

Fortunately a gentleman has now been appointed whom I-fell sure Will urge bis Minister to induce the Government lo proceed ns quickly as jiossible with the erection of a building, at ail events sufficient to have properly displayed those exhibits now in the present buildibg, and those in the basement; that have not seen tho light for many years. It may seem strange that with' such a remarkable fauna and Horn, as iliss country possessed, there is not n complete collection of its birds in any museum in it, and unless specimens, ot some' of tire birds' are given by the various museums to the Dominion one. for the purpose of having as complete a sot as- possible, 'that such cannot be procured. I have often been asked by visitors where a collection, ot the birds, more especially those for which the country is so remarkable, such as the remains of the moa, the notomis, and other rare birds, could be seen, ’ and when_ told that there was no such collection in any one museum', they were most greatly surprised. New Zealand is also noted for its n> markable flora- There is no Herbarium collection to bo seen in any of the museums except, I believe, at the Auckland one. There were specimens chiefly of a few alpine plants mounted in a very plain but useful manner on cardboard in glaze! frames in the first Christchurch museum, but whether they are still in the present one I cannot sav. At one time in the Dominion (once Colonial) Museum there was a set of the minerals, which were of very great interest to visitors. Where are they? Gone, but fortunately they do* not decay, like the birds and plants have done for want of proper attention, and tuts because there -was no one who took any interest in them. Get any person interested in tho botany of the country vo t; the museum and ask to see a collection of the plants; X undertake to say none con fit be shown, and the same with tnu birds—no names to these, end what there are, some in one place, some j,n another, some set up. others not so. I hope the Minister in charge, and toe .fwly appointed director, will Imve learnt in less than two years to tav •Nous a Tons charge tout eel a.”—l nm , _ , IT JIT February 2ml, ISI4. ’