H.—22

6

Ethnology.—A good deal of work has been done on both the Maori and foreign ethnological collections. Material that has been in the store for many years has been brought to light, catalogued, and classified. Representative collections are being placed on exhibition, with descriptive labels. A display of Polynesian material has been made in a large wall-case in the Museum. The Australian collection is also now under rearrangement. Additions to the ethnological collections include a Maori ornament box of unusual design, some Danish prehistoric flint implements, and a Maori canoe from the Marlborough Sounds. An important series of specimens from Samoa and other Pacific islands has been deposited by Colonel P. Tate, S.M., and the Secretary of the Cook Islands Department. Mr. Elsdon Best has continued his researches on the Maori. Two bulletins, one on Maori methods of fishing and the other on the Whare Kohanga, are in the printer's hands, while the second part of a bulletin on Maori mythology is nearing completion. In addition, Mr. Best has published the following papers in the Journal of the Polynesian Society : " Maori and Maruiwi " ; " The Story of Rua and Tangaroa " ; " The Story of Ngae and Tutununui." Mr. Phillipps has published in the Journal of the Polynesian Society notes on a Maori stone anchor and a stone adze. Herbarium.—The plant collections, which have been increasing steadily during the past few years, are being reorganized into New Zealand and foreign reference collections, and a collection of duplicate material. For this purpose some extra shelving and other necessary material has been provided. Additions to the collection include collections made on the Great and Little Barrier Islands, at Opepe Bush, and at Spirits Bay and other localities north of Auckland. The following papers have been published by Mr. Oliver in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute : " The New Zealand Species of Metrosideros " ; "A Revision of the Genus Dracophyllum " ; " The Vegetation of the Upper Bealey Valley " (with Mr. R. M. Laing) ; and " The Flora of the Waipaoa Series (Pliocene)." Mammals.—ln January last a whale of a rare species (Kogia breviceps) was cast ashore at Breaker Bay. The calf, 3 ft. 4 in. in length, was procured for the Museum. The body of the whale was buried, with the intention of later securing the skeleton. Birds.—Practically the whole of the reference collection has now been treated with disinfectant and placed in systematic order in the new bird-cabinets provided last year. The remounting and treating of the birds in the exhibition series is being carried out, and new labels are being provided as the work proceeds. Fishes. —The whole of the reference collection has been overhauled, metal numbers attached, and entries made in the new register. Additions to the collection include Cook Island fishes presented by Judge Ayson, some fishes from Waikaremoana presented by Mr. A. Ivean, and several ribbon-fishes from various localities. The following papers have been published in the New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology : " Sharks of New Zealand (No. 2) " and " The Dried Swim-bladder of the Ling." Insects. —The principal addition to the insect collection consists of the specimens collected from Little Barrier Island and several localities north of Auckland. Some rare species were represented. The insect collection now comprises about twenty thousand specimens from New Zealand and over three hundred thousand foreign specimens. All are in good order, but on account of the large amount of work involved some sections of the foreign collection have not yet been classified. The collection has been put to considerable use for identifying on account of various inquirers, more especially since the Biology Division of the Department of Agriculture has been removed to Palmerston North. Mollusca. —Additions include a large collection of New Zealand and foreign mollusca and a fine series of 171 species of shells from Panama, presented by Mr. V. W. Lindauer. Library. —The library is now assuming fairly large proportions, and is consequently becoming much more useful. Besides serving the demands of the various branches of the Museum, it is made use of by various scientific workers throughout New Zealand. It is, however, not yet adequate for the Museum, which covers so many subjects demanding full descriptive labels and must provide information for numerous inquiries in very varied subjects. The making of a subject catalogue of the books and pamphlets in card-index form has received attention. International Exchange Service. —Twenty-eight cases of publications have been received from the Smithsonian Institution, and the contents have been distributed to various recipients throughout, the Dominion. Publications have also been received from the International Exchange Services of Belgium, Hungary, Poland, and Germany. Coins. —A valuable collection of English silver and copper coins was bequeathed to the Museum by the late Canon Crompton. Attendance and Inquiries. —It is pleasing to record a steady attendance of visitors at both sections of the Museum. In addition, classes of teachers as well as school-children have regularly visited the Museum. Inquiries from other parts of the Dominion form a good proportion of the inward correspondence, the inquirers in most cases desiring information for its own sake, but occasionally the identification of some mineral or substance of commercial value, such as ambergris, is sought. Alexander Turnbull Library. Cataloguing. —The volumes classified, numbered, and arranged in order on the shelves now exceeds thirty-three thousand ; in addition, over two thousand MS. letters of the Mantell Collection have been classified. The greater part of the books classified deal with Pacific literature. About two hundred were sent for binding, and a hundred drawings and engravings for mounting and putting in Solander cases.