OTAGO MUSEUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 878, 26 September 1868, Page 11

OTAGO MUSEUM.

The Otago Museum, in the new Post Office building, is now becoming known as a fact ; and on each day that it has been open, there has been a fair number of visitors. Taken by itself, and well arranged in the rooms in the south gallery of the Post Office, the collection can be better studied than when it was but a section of the New Zealand Exhibition of 1865. Of course, in that exhibition there were included with the now Museum oolleotion, many things which, belonging

to others than the Provincial Government, are not now to bo found in the Post Office. But already, the existence of the Museum as a public institution has called forth various gifts of interesting objects ; and we do not doubt that such additions will continue to he made. It would be we 1 if a competent authority could indicate the classes of objects, or specific specimens, which would he most valuable,, as helping to complete the representative groups of natural products of Otago or of New Zealand. With the aid oi such, an indication, many persons might find themselves able to become contributors, while others wpuld assuredly find pleasure in constituting themselves collectors. As to pbjects of interest other than those to he found in New' Zealand,' our merchants, through merchant captains, or captains of their own kindly good will, might do much to help the Museum. If the publio would thus do its duty towards itself, the Government need incur but little cost beyond that necessary for properly arranging and preserving contributions. The recent trading and visiting to the Fiji Islands, have led to several donations to the Museum. Capt. Patersoa has given a specimen of the native cloth, called tapu, and which is used by the chiefs as screens. The cloth is 21ft. 6in. by 13ft. 9in., and it seems to have been made rather by pressure of the cotton than by any process Uke weaving. Along tha ends, there is a deep border, geometric in its general design, and which has apparently been produced by hand-stamping with small patterns or dies. Black and dull red are the colors used ; and the border is edged with a scalloplike fringe. The body of the screen is rudely covered with what may perhaps be called a pattern, in lightish brown color. Captain Paterson has promised to bring various things of interest, when he returns from the trip to the islands, on which he is about to start with his smart schooner, the Banshee. Mr F. J. Moss brought back with him from Fiji, and has given to the Museum, a sample of Fijian pottery — a water vessel, globular in form, with two small apertures. The material is of a dark red-brown, and is highly glazed ; the upper hemisphere being ornamented with a rude pattern, and there being a belt of small knobs around the vessel." Mr Moss has also given a specimen of Beche de la Mer, and a piece of sandal-wood. Mr Beverly ha 3 contributed two necklaces, such as are worn by the women of Fiji ; the ornaments being, according to the appended card, " said to be made of whales' teeth.*' Mr T. Dobbie has completed the present small Fijian collection by three" war-club8 — two of them short, like constables' staves, but with round knotted heads, that look like easy skull-breakers ; and the third about 4ft. long, its head being in effect spiked, short bits of what were roots, probably, being left projecting. This long cluo is of very heavy and hard wood. — Mr J. A. Ewen has given a sample of pure Cashmere wool, in its simply cleaned state ; a small skein prepared for weaving ; and a bit of embroidered cloth, as produced in Cashmere. To the Natural History department, Mr Ewen has contributed the tail of a Himalayan Ibex, which would make a towering plume if well placed in an appropriate helmet or hat ; a young Axis Deer, dropped in Dunedin, but which has unfortunately not been well stuffed ; and a fine cock Pheasant from Auckland. Mr Ewen has further contributed a case of insects, including some beautiful beetles ; and a case of butterflies and moths. Another case, filled with English and Brazilian butterflies, has been given by Mr J. S. Webb.