H.—22

18

IV. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, DOMINION MUSEUM. Dominion Museum, Wellington, 19th August, 1918.' The Museum and the Wab. The war affects the Museum adversely in postponing the erection of a much-needed new building. Not only do the existing collections run the risk of fire in the present wooden building, but they are in large part inaccessible to the public owing to lack of space. It has become necessary during the year to place in store the large and attractive Maori canoes, in order to make room for war trophies coming-to hand. By its failure to provide fire-proof storage and exhibition space the Museum loses many valuable specimens that would otherwise come to it. I feel it my duty to repeat the remarks I made on this subject in 1916 : " The existing building is not only slowly decaying, but is unsuitable in design and lighting arrangements for the proper display of any collections, and is totally inadequate in floor-space for the existing material. So long as it is in use the Museum must not only come far short of its full usefulness to the present generation, but is losing many opportunities of becoming the storehouse of material which will be unobtainable in the future. As a national institution, visited by most of the travellers to these shores, it must surely undo much of the reputation for enlightenment and efficiency which the Government of the Dominion has so successfully created. It may therefore be questioned whether the postponement of a new building is a true economy." Board of Science and Art. The third annual meeting of the Board was held at the Dominion Museum on the 30th January, 1918, under the presidency of the Hon. (4. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs. The matters dealt with more particularly affecting the Museum were as follows : — Collections Committee.—The report of the Collections Committee was adopted. The Hon. Mr. Russell stated that while it was undesirable to spend much money upon collection during the war, any important collections would receive special consideration. Historical Committee.—The report on historical collections was adopted. Tn accordance with a suggestion made by Mr. S. Percy Smith, it was resolved that a register of early colonists be undertaken. Scientific and Technological Library.—A resolution of the New Zealand Institute affirnjing that one of the most important steps in the direction of encouraging the application of science to industry is the foundation of a scientific and technological library in the Dominion, and urging the Government to take immediate steps to provide such a library, together with a proposal by Dr. Thomson for a multiple-card-index system, were approved and referred to the Publication Committee for action. Staff. —The classification of the staff by the Public Service Commissioner was considered, and various alterations recommended. Secretary : Dr. .T. Allan Thomson was appointed Hon. Secretary to the Board. Publications of the Board of Science and Art. During the year two new serial publications were authorized and issued—-viz., the Neir. Zealand Journal of Science and Technology, issued six times per annum, commencing with the first number in January, 1918, and the " Bulletin of the Board of Science and Art," issued as occasion demands. Of the latter Bulletin No. I was issued in August, 1918, and is entitled " New Zealand Brown Coals, with Special Reference to their I'se in Gas-producers and for Lowtemperature Distillation," by H. Rands, M.A., B.Sc., and W. O. R. Gilling, M.A., R.Sc., National Research Scholars, Education Department. Staff. No changes in the number or personnel of the staff were made during the year with the exception of the appointment of an additional typist in the person of Miss Thomson on the 6th June, 1918. As in previous years, Mr. Tomlinson was engaged during the parliamentary recess as general assistant. Miss Mestayer was engaged for part-time work during September, October, and November to work on the Mollusca collections. As in previous years, Mr. E. Best has devoted his whole time to ethnological research on the Maori, and Miss Castle has been wholly occupied with the care of the insect collections. Reports by these officers appear below. Mrs. W. Turton has been engaged exclusively on the National Historical Collection, including the formation of a series of photographs of officers and men who have won distinction in the Great War. Mr. Phillipps has been occupied in library work and on zoological collections, especially fish and reptiles. Owing to the increase of editorial and other work falling on the Director a larger share of curatorial and general museum work has fallen on Mr. McDonald, who has virtually acted as curator of exhibits. A report bv this officer appears below. During the autumn of 1917 I visited the majority of the aboriginal rock-shelters of Canterbury and Ot.ago, and prepared a report on the ancient pictographs, and on historical monuments in general. As historical monuments come under the purview of the Scenery Preservation Board, the report was referred to the Department of Lands and Survey, who have undertaken to bring some desirable amendments in the Scenery Preservation Act after the war. During this visit opportunity was taken to make an extended series of observations on the geology of South Canterbury, and to collect a large series of specimens. Pressure of work has prevented much progress being made with the classification of the Tertiary Brachiopoda for the Geological Survey Department. Since the last annual report the