Page image

H.—22

and a few birds. From the Garvie Mountains a good series of alpine plants was obtained. The Museum has been particularly indebted to the Curator of the Newtown Zoo who has handed over the bodies of mammals and birds that have died in the Zoo. In this way several interesting specimens have been added to the Museum. Another source for obtaining foreign birds in good condition for mounting has been local bird fanciers who have supplied numerous specimens—many of rare species. Several exchanges with Museums both outside and within New Zealand have been successfully arranged. Numerous donations from private persons have been received, so that the year has been a successful one as far as additions are concerned, while an increasing interest taken by the public has to be recorded. This has been reflected in the press, where, in addition to accounts of the progress of the new building, frequent notices of specimens received have been published. The principal additions to the collections have been a crab-eating seal, a specimen of the Mediterranean Shearwater collected by Major R. A. Wilson at Foxton (addition to the New Zealand avifauna), forty-eight bird-skins from Norway, twelve pigeons' skins from Polynesia, many Australian birds from local bird fanciers ; several casts of fishes made in the Museum from specimens received, fishes from Aitutaki presented by Mr. D. Low; collections of mollusca and brachiopoda from America and Europe ; seventy-four species of plants from Uruguay ; Stone adzes from Tahiti, Japanese armour presented by Mr. R. F. Blair ; Grave post from Melville Island ; several firearms, of which the Museum has now a considerable and varied series. Mosquito-control.—Means were provided by the Department of Public Health to enable Mr. W. J. Phillipps to experiment further on mosquito-control in northern parts of New Zealand. Some hundreds of top minnow (Gambusia) were introduced into a lake on the edge of Ninety-mile Beach. This lake, previously devoid of fish-life is a prolific source of mosquitoes. To date the experiment of transplanting the fish has been most successful. Experiments in keeping Gambusia with native fish and trout are proceeding in experimental ponds at Masterton. It has been found that Gambusia will not breed readily in the Wellington Province. At the request of the Resident Commissioner, Cook Islands, Gambusia have been sent there for experimentation in the taro swamps. International Exchange Service. —About thirty cases of publications from the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, and several parcels from other countries, have been received and distributed to various recipients throughout the Dominion. Carnegie Grant. —During the year information was received that the Carnegie Corporation of New York had granted $50,000 for Museum development in New Zealand. The expenditure will be allocated by a committee to be set. up for the purpose. Alexander Turnbull Library. Cataloguing.—The number of volumes classified, numbered, and arranged in order on the shelves is now, 41,600. Three hundred and sixty volumes were sent for binding. Additions. —About 287 volumes, including 106 donated were added to the library ; those added by purchase being continuations of sets. Donations.—Books and pictures: A number of volumes of the New Zealand Gazette and Appendices to the House were received from the Internal Affairs Department to complete sets. Mrs. T. Williams, Hawke's Bay —" Life of Wm. Gilbert Puckey," and " Puckey's Translation of The Pilgrim's Progress into Maori " (MS.). E. D. Scammell, South Australia—Pencil sketch of Great Barrier Island (? by Bambridge) 1843. Cecil W. Jones, Wellington—" Paul et Virginie, Methode naturelle pour apprendre le jrancais." by G. Hogben (part 2); "M. Twain, Editorial Wild Oats " ; volume of New Zealand ferns pressed and mounted. A. H. Reed, Dunedin—" Not of Genesareth "; " Rutherford Waddell, Memoir" ; "First New Zealand Christmases." Rev. J. G. Laughton, Taupo—"Presbyterian Maori Service Book." Mrs. Johnston, London—Four water-colour drawings by Major J. T. Johnston, 1865 (" Mount Egmont," " Ohinemutu," " Rotomahana," " Picton "). Miss A. Woodhouse, Wp.Hingt.nn— Seven one-act plays. Mrs. Rounthwaite, Wellington—Fine collection of architectural drawings; volumes of proceedings of Select Committee on Turnpike Roads, 1821 ; on Turnpike Trusts and Tolls, 1836. Melanesian Mission Press, Guadalcanar—A number of publications in local dialects. A. P. Godber, Wellington—Reminiscences by H. P. Washbourn; a number of Maori photographs. Rev. M. A. Rugby-Pratt, Christchurch—" The Pioneering Days of Southern Maoriland." John Houston, Hawera—" Turi of the Aotea Canoe." Waianiwaniwa Ex-pupils and Teachers Association, Invercargill —" A Souvenir of Waianiwaniwa School." Miss M. Tewsley, Wellington—" Madge Livesey," by Dora S. Shorter. J. B. MacEwan and Company, Limited, Wellington—N.Z. Produce Review, May, 1925-June, 1926 (complete). E/cetahuna Express—Eketahuna Jubilees. Chas. S. Thomas, .Christchurch —Jubilee of Canterbury Caledonian Society. R. Holloway and Miss A. M. Hardcastle, Auckland—" A Book for Bookmen," by John Drinkwater. C. A. McDonald, Blenheim—" Pages from the Past." Jas. Hornell, England—Several pamphlets on Canoes in the Pacific. R. J. Thomson, Wellington—Panorama of Napier after earthquake. A. C. Hanlon, Auckland —Poems (fourth series), Mrs. Sheat, Blenheim—Biographical material relating to T. J. Thomson, Barnicoat, and others. Methodist Mission, Bougaineville—Mission Press Publication. Miss Maxwell, Tauranga—Maori Bible. R. W. de Montalk, Wellington—" Milford Sound." G. H. Cunningham, Palmerston North—" Rust Fungi of New Zealand" ; Fungous Diseases of Fruit-trees. Sir Joseph Kinsey, Christchurch— " Edward Wilson of the Antarctic." Gerald FitzGerald, Wellington—" N.Z. Holiday," by Rosemary Rees ; " Early Days of Canterbury," by A. Selwyn Bruce ; " Waitangi," by A. D. McKinlay. E. M. Lovell-Smith, Christchurch —" The. Story of St. Peter's Parish.'.' Australian Council for Educational Research—l 9, 22, and 23, volumes of Research Series. Corriedale Sheep Society, Christchurch — Flock-book, vol. 10. Consul-General of Italy, Sydney—" Christopher Columbus, Documents and Proofs of his Genoese Origin." Roland Powell, Wellington—"Gleanings." F. W. Reed, Whangarei —Translation of A. Dumas' " Les Baleiniers." Warwick, R. Lawrence, . Carterton—"Three-mile Bush "(a history of Wairarapa). Mrs. E. W. Kane, Wellington—Butler's " Hudibras," 1700 ; Letters concerning Toleration, by John Locke, 1765.

13