CANTERBURY MUSEUM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 28 June 1920, Page 7

CANTERBURY MUSEUM.

IMPROVING THE NEW ZEALAND COLLECTION. Mr E. Stead -wrote to the Board of Governors of Canterbury College to-day suggesting that steps should be taken to improve the New Zealand collections at Canterbury Museum, and making a, conditional olfer of a gift of £IOO tc raids establishing a fund for the purpose. Mr Stoat said in his letter that' little had been done to tho New Zealand collection for many years, mainly on account of lack of funds. Thu Museum had n fairly representativecollection of> foreign exhibits, but most vf the. New Zealand collection was old, and was poorly 'ispiavud. Tho housing of the Now ' calami collection was cammed practically to one room, which, to say tho leas was not well adapted for tho purpose. Opportunities for making collections of the New Zealand fauna and of Maori curios and other specimens wore rapidly slipping a*’ay. He therefore suggested that a fund to tnako collections ot that character should be established. If the sum of GL-bOO was obtained by voluntary subscriptions or otherwise, there would be littlo ditliealty, he thought, in inducing the Government to give a subsidy of pound for pound. The sum could be put out at interest for ten years. The interest could be spent each year in purchasing specimens and in improving the Now Zealand collection generally. At tho end of the term, tho capital could bo spent on housing the collection. Tim Museum at present had an efficient and energetic staff, and if the money was available the New Zealand section eon Id be improved out of all recognition. In order to give the movement a start, ho would subscribe £IOO, on condition that a total of not less than £20(10 was subscribed. “ 1 am confident that there arc many specimens and relics of considerable value to the Museum whose present owners do not- place very great worth on them,” .Air Stead concluded, “ and 1 also suggest that when subscriptions are asked for a general appeal should bo made for donations in kind. It is regrettable that New Zealand is ono of the countries in which tho educational value, of museums is by no means generally recognised, and I feel snro that if wo increase the' New Zealand collection we will at tlie same time increase Neve Zealanders’ appreciation of the couutpy in whiclPlhcv live.” • ‘