BOARD INSPECTS NEW MUSEUM

Southland Times, Issue 24596, 19 November 1941, Page 6

BOARD INSPECTS NEW MUSEUM

INSTALLATION OF EXHIBITS

A decision to name the ethnology section, on the east side of the new museum, the Anderson Wing, and the natural history section, on the west side, the Miller Wing, was made at a special meeting of the Southland Museum Trust Board in the new building yesterday. The Mayor' (Mr J. R. Martin) presided. Tire wings are to be named after Sir Robert Anderson and Mr John Miller, a former Mayor of Invercargill. Before the meeting members of the board made an inspection of the building, which will not be opened before January. A sketch of a coat of arms was submitted to the meeting by Mr R. Parker, of the Southland Technical College. The design was accepted and Mr Parker was thanked for his work.

Arrangements were made to shift exhibits from the storeroom to the new building on Saturday and the exhibits from- the old museum are to be shifted the following week. It was decided to hold a meeting of the board in a fortnight’s time. It was hoped that by that time the board room in the new building would be completed. Arrangements will, be made at the meeting for the opening ceremony and the nrogramme for that day. DATE OF OPENING During a short discussion about the date of the opening, Dr G. H. Uttley suggested that if possible the ceremony should be arranged so as not to clash with the school holidays, when many persons would be away. Mr C. B. Tapley said he did not see, if the building was ready by January, why the ceremony should be postponed because there would be many visitors to Invercargill during that month. The opinion that it would be a good thing to have the children of the community present was expressed by Mr H. C. Gimblett and his remarks were endorsed by Mr Martin, who said that the museum was going to benefit the youngei’ people. Further discussion of the opening of the museum was postponed until the next meeting. Each wing of the museum is 40ft by 25ft and has a floor space of 1000 square feet. The roof lighting is fashioned in such a way that the light is evenly diffused throughout. A recessed bay at the far end of each wing provides room for displays not enclosed in cases. Provision has been made for electric heating and adequate ventilation. A combined board room and lecture hall stands opposite the top of the stairs and in it may be hung the nucleus of a public art collection. The "ground floor will be taken up with storage and research work in a large room to the west, and on the east side there is another .zorkroom in which specimens will be dealt with. A dark room for photographic work has also been included. The two large rooms upstairs are ideally fashioned for display work. I