E.—B

5

to the Maori carvings. During the year exchanges have been sent to the Museum at Cape Town ; to Mr. W. Wood, of New York ; and to Mr. E. H. Lukins, of Nelson. Exchanges have been received from the Museum at Auckland; the Albany Museum at Graham's Town, South Africa ; the Museum at Cape Town; Mr. 0. E. Yanson, of London; Mr. W. Wood, of New York; and Mr. E. H. Lukins, of Nelson. The practice of closing the Museum for cleaning every Wednesday was found to be very inconvenient, owing to the number of visitors to Christchurch who wanted admittance on that day. 1 therefore made a change on the beginning of last October, and now have a portion of tTie Museum cleaned each day, so that the whole is gone over in each week, and the Museum is open to the public every day. This system has worked satisfactorily for the last six months. One hundred and fourteen copies of the guide-book were sold during the year. A large number of labels have been printed, including the whole of the mineral collections, both foreign and New Zealand. The following are the principal additions to the collections: Two old ship's guns used in the earliest days of the settlement by Messrs. Miles and Co. to signal the arrival of ships at Lyttelton, presented by Mr. James Ashley. Geological Collections. —Twenty-six rock-specimens from South Victoria Land, presented by Mr. H. T. Ferrer; and nine other specimens purchased from the sailors. Natural History Collections.--The skeleton of a sheep presented by Mr. J. C. N. Grigg. Skins of Weddel's seal, the crab-eating seal, and Boss's seal —all with skulls ; skins of the emperor penguin (old and young), skins of the skua gull, the Antarctic petrel, and the ice-petrel; eggs of the emperor penguin, the adelia penguin, and the skua gull—all presented by tue National Antarctic Expedition. These have been mounted by Mr. W. Sparkes in a natural group with a background of ice and basalt cliff, and placed in a case in the Mammal Boom. Archcßoiogical Collections. —Six ancient copper figures from Peru. A bronze sickle and armlet from Hungary. A Jacobean powder-flask ; and an old bronze cattle-bell from Oxfordshire. All presented by the Curator. Ethnological Collections. —A sledge and pair of snow-shoes used by the Antarctic Expedition, presented by Captain Scott. An old velocipede of. 1870, presented by Mr. James Ashley. A bronze mask from Benin City. Water-pots, spoons, toys, stool, dollar, and an awl from Bechuanaland—all by exchange. A wooden sword from North Australia, an old snuff-box, and a dart used by Spanish matadors—purchased. A belt from Thibet, a jade gong from China, Persian turquoise showing the method of polishing, a Cingalese shrine from Ceylon, a carved paddle from Ellice lelands, and a club from North New Guinea—all presented by the Curator. New Zealand Collections. —The skeleton of a Chatham Island rail, presented by Mr. F. C. McClurg. Twenty-four species of New Zealand Mollusca, new to the collection, presented by Mr. H. Suter. Maori Collections. —Four carved wooden slabs from Tolago Bay, two pumice kumara gods, a Maori fishing-float, mouth-piece of a pigeon-pot, a wooden dish, a bone hoeroa, two Maori weeding instruments, three painted ridge-boards from an old whare, carved side streak of a warcanoe, two carved seats of a war-canoe, and a seat of a trading-canoe—all purchased. A Moriori grinding-stone and a canoe-head from the Chatham Islands—also purchased. A stone club with notched edges from the Chatham Islands, a greenstone tiki and two pendants—presented by the Curator. Library. —ln addition to the several presentations from museums and scientific societies, we have received the following books: " Die Naturlicher Pflanzen Familien," by Engler and Prantl — purchased; "New Zealand Neuroptera," and "New Zealand Moths and Butterflies," by G. V. Hudson —presented by the Hon. the Minister of Education; "Index Faunse Novee-Zealandise " and " Animals of New Zealand," presented by the Curator. School op Art. Beport of the Art Master (Mr. G. H. Elliott) :— As compared with 1903, the numbers in attendance were: — 1903. —First term —Morning, 29 ; afternoon, 5 ; evening, 157 ; Saturday, 74. Second term— Morning, 30; afternoon, 3 ; evening, 144; Saturday, 92. Third term —Morning, 30; afternoon, 2 ; evening, 135; Saturday, 98. Total, 799. 1904.—First term—Morning, 38 ; afternoon, 13 ; evening, 117 ; Saturday, 84. Second term—■ Morning, 30 ; afternoon, 18; evening, 134; Saturday, 93. Third term—Morning, 34 ; afternoon, 18; evening, 139; Saturday, 103. Total, 821. An afternoon class for general art work was started at the beginning of the year and held two afternoons a week. This accounts for the increase in this class, as formerly it was only held one afternoon a week for carving alone. Draiuing and Painting. —The instruction has comprised drawing and painting from life, still life, landscape and from nature, antique and elementary work. All students have also practised modelling, which has proved helpful in learning form. An increasing number have taken up applied art work instead of painting. Modelling, Moulding, and Casting. —This class was well attended by the painting students, with an average of nineteen per term. Very few of those taking " applied" relief-work also took modelling. This is to be regretted, as it is of special value for this work. The instruction comprised modelling from the cast (ornament and antique) and from life, also the carrying-out of original designs preparatory to the final work in carving or repousse. The various methods of casting were practised. Applied Art Work, Wood and Stone Carving, and Repousse. —The nature of this work has been similar to that of last year, rather more taking repousse than carving. A commendable feature is that almost all the work has been from original designs. The quality of work has improved.