NEW SPECIMENS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20418, 24 September 1934, Page 7

NEW SPECIMENS.

Gifts to Canterbury Museum. Several new and interesting specimens have been added to the collection at the Canterbury Museum. A Colt revolving shot gun. made in 1850, has been donated by Mr George Spencer. It has six chambers and a single barrel, and was manufactured in Hartford, US.A. South Sea Island curiosities have been a welcome addition to the many specimens already in the institution. These include a Samoan club, a dress from Ellis Island, and also one from Samoa. A wooden bowl from New Guinea is one of the most interesting of the recent additions on account of its having been obtained by Mr H. O. Forbes, formerly a curator of the Museum. Mr Forbes had travelled extensively in the Malay Archipelago. A rare specimen of hartzbayite rock, from the Omeroa Gorge. West Coast, has been presented by Mr J. Mitchell. It is interesting on account of having been found in its original position. The only other find of a similar nature was at Milford Sound by Dr P. Marshall, but that particular rock was discovered to be out of its original place. Two species of New Zealand white ants have been added to the collection, and these were found by Mr H. A. Helson, of Canterbury College, in a wooden house in Christchurch. Some time ago the Museum authorities sent its collection of ants to Mr G. F. Hill, of Canberra, who has expressed the opinion that the white ants are a complete new species. The first of a series of lectures to be given at the Museum will be delivered by Professor Shelley at 11 a.m. to-mor-row. his subject being “ The Egyptian Collection.” On account of the limited space available the Museum authorities state that admission will be by ticket only.