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Technological Collections The principal addition during the year was an extensive and valuable collection of furniture bequeathed by Mrs. E. G. Elgar, of Featherston. Most of it. belonged to the Queen Anne and Georgian Periods. Besides furniture, the bequest included eight Chinese figures and seven Chinese plates and bowls. Another valuable bequest was a collection of ivories, mainly Japanese, left to the Museum by the late Mr. W. Wallis. Miss Carkeek, a relative of Sergeant Carkeek, who was awarded the New Zealand Cross during the Maori Wars, presented the cross and a war medal to the Museum. Fishes A large portion of the total spirit collection has been overhauled and relabelled where required. The collection of dried fishes has been further reclassified. During the year the most important accessions have been a pair of jaws of a bramble shark, Echinorhinus mccoyi, presented by Dr. J. A. Berry, Napier, and a mudfish, Neoehanna apoda, presented by Mr. R. H. Michie, Kaitaia. Entomological Collection Numerous inquiries from the public and Government Departments have been dealt with during the year. The rearrangement of the collections has continued, but still is hampered by lack of cabinet space. During late January and early February Dr. Salmon and Mr. R. Forster made a further expedition to the Homer district to see what results could be obtained there in the late season. The expedition was extremely successful, and a very large collection of insects was obtained ; also, at least four new species of Lepidoptera were secured. During the return journey short visits were made to Peel Forest and Mount Algidus, where further collections were made. During February Dr. Salmon accompanied the Director and Mr. Lindsay, together with Mr. E. S. Gourlay, of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, on an expedition to Mount Arthur, when extensive collections of Collembola, opiliones, spiders, &c., and many moths and miscellaneous insects, including a new species of weta, were obtained. Later, in April, Dr. Salmon and Mr. Forster made a further short expedition to Mount Arthur in an unsuccessful attempt to secure specimens of the large moth, Porina aurimaculata, for the Museum collection. The literature system and index commenced last year for recording separates now has been completed. Accessions for the year include a large collection of opiliones from Dr. C. J. Goodnight, of the American Museum of Natural History ; a large collection of New Zealand spiders and literature from the estate of the late Mr. E. K. Lomas ; a small collection of miscellaneous New Zealand insects from Mr. G. Y. Hudson ; a small collection of moths from Longbeach, Dunedin, from Mr. T. M. Smith ; a small collection of rare New Zealand Lepidoptera from Mr. A. H. Ahrens, of Masterton ; and a nest of the wasp, Vespa germanica, from Mr. C. R. Paterson, Apiary Instructor, of Hamilton. A paper entitled " Notes and Synonymy on some Generic Names of the Collembola " was published by Dr. Salmon in the Trails. Roy. Soc. of N.Z., 75, pp. 68-71. Botanical Collection Work on the collection, mounting specimens, classifying, and disinfecting has proceeded somewhat interruptedly during the year, as the botanical assistant has had to carry out essential work in the library. Some assistance was obtained in the University vacation by employing a number of students. The main addition was the herbarium of Mr. W. Martin, presented by him on his retirement. The collection included a considerable series of plants from the Marlborough mountains and from the Chatham Islands. Other additions resulted from Museum expeditions to Mount Arthur, Mount Peel, and the CollingwoOd district, and visits by the Director for other purposes to Taupo and Blenheim.
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