MUSEUM OPENING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 676, 30 May 1929, Page 7

MUSEUM OPENING

ARMISTICE DAY CHOSEN FOR CEREMONY INSTITUTE’S PAST YEAR “If. nothing intervenes, and we are given a fair chance, it is hoped that the Museum will be opened on Armistice Day next—November 11. If the War Memorial Committee is agreeable, the building then will be thrown open to the public. HIS announcement was made last evening at the annual meeting of the Auckland Institute and Museum by the president, Mr. H. E. Valle, who occupied the chair. An appeal for members to increase the roll-numbers of the organisation was made by the president, who said that Auckland had a membership of 610—the largest in New Zealand—but, considering Auckland’s population and the importance of the museum, the roll should be at least 1,000. He urged members to try to enlist more members, particularly life-sub-scription members, whose subscriptions were added to the capital account. WAR TROPHIES He commented briefly on the annual report, and congratulated Mr. Gilbert Archey, curator, on his work during the year. Public interest in the museum and the institute lectures had been maintained, and collections had been improved in every department. The president said that the institute was making an endeavour to get a big collection of trophies of all wars, and it was hoped to make a display of all the guns from the Great War available in Auckland. It was hoped also that public-spirited citizens would help to fill the niches round the building with statuary. He made an appeal for the Maori race to support the museum with gifts of exhibits, following the lead given by the Waikato princess, Te Puea Herangi. It was to the advantage of Maori and pakeha to support the institution. ART COLLECTIONS A suggestion was thrown out by Mr. Vaile that such collections of objects of art as the Meckelvie one and that of the museum could be combined and classified under one control. This would be of advantage to students in the future. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. H. E. Vaile (re-elected); vice-presidents, the Hon. Sir Edwin Mitchelson, M.L.C., the Hon. Sir James Parr and Sir James Gunson, members of the council, Messrs. W. Cecil Leys, J. Kenderdine, C. R. Ford and J. C. Entrican.

A vote of thanks was passed to the curator and staff for their work during the year.