19

H.—22

following papers have been published in scientific journals: "Records of New or Rare Fish from New Zealand Waters"; "Is a Sardine Industry practicable in New Zealand 1" "On the Age of the Waikouaiti Sandstone, Otago, New Zealand"; "The (Jenus Bouehardia (Brachiopoda) and the Age of the Younger Beds of Seymour Island, West Antarctic." Office. Owing to the business arrangements as well as the editing of the New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology being carried out in the Museum there lias been a large increase in officework, which has been met by the appointment of an additional typist and the installation of a dictaphone. The latter has proved satisfactory under the conditions prevailing, for although more cumbersome in some respects than the employment of a stenographer and typist, it has the advantage of being available at all Limes and at the shortest notice. Owing to the increase of staff the office accommodation has become very congested. National Historical Collection. The appeal for material for a National Historical Collection has been issued to a further iiumber of relatives of early settlers, but in the majority of cases without any tangible result. Nevertheless a considerable amount of historical material has been obtained in this manner, including early books, newspapers, maps, views, and portraits, autographs, letters, account books, anil diaries. Since the first issue of the appeal the number of entries in the register, including the war section of the Museum referred to below, has risen from 344 to 858. The two most valuable historical documents comprise the official letter-book of James Busby, British Resident from L 833 onwards, and a manuscript history of New Zealand by the same, both presented by his son Mr. William Busby, of Tokomaru Bay. These documents throw new light on Ihe events which led up to the Treaty of Waitangi, and are of the first importance. Another interesting manuscript is a history of the Pai Mariri or llauhau religion, purchased from Mr. W. F. Gordon, of New Plymouth. A. valuable donation to the historical library, made by the committee of the Dunedin Athenaeum, consists of a large number of early reports of the Provincial Legislatures. Other rare New Zealand books have been donated by Mrs. D. Scott, Miss McGlashan, Messrs. W. I). Earquhar, L. Stowe (C.M.G.), J. A. Wilson, the Lower Hutt Borough Council, and the Defence Department. Other accessions of interest include the plates used for printing the stamps of the Great Barrier Island pigeon service, donated by Mr. H. Bolitho, of Devonport; and a large number of early maps, presented by Mr. C. A. Ewen. An effort was made through the High Commissioner to trace and secure the manuscript of Thomas Brunner's journal, but it was discovered that the original was never sent to England, the copy printed in (he Journal of the Royal Geographical Society being taken from a, printed copy printed in Nelson in 1884 by Charles Eliott, printer, as recorded in Hocken's Bibliography. The original manuscript, if still extant, is probably still in New Zealand. The decision of the Board of Science and Art to compile a register of early colonists will, it is hoped, keep the National Historical Collection before the public during the coming year. War Section. During the year considerable progress has been made in the collection of materials illustrating New Zealand's part in the Great War. By co-operation with (he Defence Department there have been obtained sets of cap and collar badges of the Territorial units and of the Ist to the 34th Reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, copies of the magazines published on the transports by the Reinforcements, and a number of war trophies, comprising trench mortars, bomb-throwers, machine guns and parts, a field gun, and fragments of shells. Of special intcrcsl are a large pontoon by which the Turks crossed the Suez Canal, and a sextant used by the Germans who escaped from Motuihi island, and made upon the island. Through the High Commissioner there have been obtained samples of the Military Cross, the Distinguished-conduct Medal, and the medals for Bravery in the Field and for Meritorious Service, a large number of official lanternslides and photographs of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, and a set of propaganda literature issued by the British Government. In addition the High Commissioner is arranging for (he collection in London of earlier transport magazines not represented in the collection, and for war trophies generally. A collection is being made of the photographs of officers and men who have gained distinctions in the war, and already some 355 have been obtained. The exhibition of these has proved of great popular interest, and has given general satisfaction to (he relatives of the soldiers in question. The portraits have come from all over New Zealand, and from Whaugarei in the North to Invercargill in the South, showing that the collection entirely merits its designation of " National." Special thanks are due to Mr. E. I. Andrew, of Wellington, who has presented forty photographs, and has kindly offered to make any copies needed for the collection. Ethnological Collection's . Although the necessity for economy caused by the war has prevented extensive purchases, the Maori collections show under the circumstances a very satisfactory increase. Of special interest is a tree-stump felled by stone tools, dredged from the Ohinemuri River by the Paeroa Goldextraction Company, and by them donated to the Museum. This stump has been described and figured by Mr. E. Besi in the New Zealand, Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. I, No. 3, pp. 139-41. A large series of weapons, stone implements, and cloaks were bequeathed by Mrs. Elizabeth Hunter Blair, of St. Mary's, Birnam, who also bequeathed a very fine writingtable inlaid with New Zealand limbers and ornamented by Maori patterns. Models of a few