HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11757, 22 July 1916, Page 8

HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

' The value of the early history section which lias just been opened in -the Canterbury Museum will eomo to be appreciated by future generations more deeply than most " of us'perhaps now realise. The story cf the pioneers is cumulative in interest with the years, and half a century hence, when none of thoso who shared in the making ot Canterbury will' be in the flesh, every scrap of information relative to the beginnings of local history and to tho adventures and explorations, and toil of the men who built Christchurch and opened up tho great back country and crossed tho Alpine ranges to the Golden Coast will bo treasured and carefully examined for literary material. This part of New Zealand does not possess the flavour of war history and bush pioneering which enters so largely into the story of the Auckland and Taranaki provinces, yet it cannot be said that the records of early Canterbury are baro of the qualities of adventure. The first quarter century of white settlement in this district, indeed, holds much of heroic effort, and the story of the French at Akaroa, tho voyages of tho pioneers in the leisurely old sailing ships, the shore-whaling era, and early contact with the Maori tribes all contain elements of tho true romance woven into a history of" fascinating interest and forming a very important section of our national re*cords.

Each of the four cities of New Zealand now has an Early Colonists' section in art gallery cxr museum, and the collections of exhibits donated-to these sections by citizens are being added to gradually, as oid-settled families and others who may possess articles of historic value realise that the best use to which they can put them is to place them on public view. Many citizens are in possession of documents and relics of really national interest, and it is a patriotic duty to placo these at the dsposal of those conducting historical research. Auckland possesses the most attractive museum devoted to the records of eariy history and -pioneering adventure, and in this collection the paintings and sketches, depicting scenes in the Maori war are a specially conspicuous feature. ' In Canterbury it should be possible to specialise in another way, in the gathering of as complete a collection as pos-' sible of pictures and models and logs of the old-time sailing ships. The maritime history of this part of New Zealand is of remarkable interest from the days of the whalers onwards. The Charlotte. Jane and her consorts in the Pilgrim fleet were not the only famous vessels that brought the nationmakers to these plains of promise. Some of the most celebrated and beautiful ships of the clipper class brought immigrants to Lyttelton in the first twentyfive years of settlement, and a subsection devoted to this aspect of out history, a phase of sea-life that has X>assed away for evr, *so far as passengers are concerned, would be ot incalculable interest to those who are to come after us. Similarly, an effort should be made to preserve relics and records bearing upon the early days of •the gold diggings in Westland, which was then officially a portion of the Canterbury province, and which was populated largely by way of the hazardous routes across the Alpine passes.

Such collections, of course, while possessing a certain national value, make their chief appeal to Canterbury residents. But we may hope to see this new-born interest in historic records leading up to a wider concern in the story of exploration and adventure in this part of the world, a concern embracing not only New Zealand but the great Pacific at our doors, with which our story is so interlaced. Christchurch is lamentably deficient in libraries bearing upon this department of history and research. Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin are well equipped with institutions in which students may investigate any branch of Australasian and Pacific history from the earliest times. Auckland has the Grey and other collections, exceedingly use lul for purposes of research, and Dunedin, through the benefactions of Dr Mocken and Dr M'Nab, is oven more generously furnished with such data, printed and ■documentary. Christchurch alone lacks a reference library thoroughly representative of the history in wluch New Zealanders should take the most intimate interest. Here, we should like to .emphasise, is an opportunity for some of our wealthy Canterbury people to do high service to their fellowcitizens by assisting Christchurch to form a library specialising in New Zealand and Pacific Islands history and exploration, and befitting the city's reputation for culture and educational progress.