A MINOR COLONIAL MUSEUM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1515, 24 March 1887, Page 3

A MINOR COLONIAL MUSEUM.

Mr E. H. Avigdor, of the firm of McKeone, Robinson, and Avigdor, the contractors for the first section of the Midland Railway, has thrown out an excellent suggestion m a letter published m the " Press " of Saturday last. The letter m question is addressed to the General Manager and Christchurch Board of Advice of the Midland Railway Company, and sets forth that, after travelling over the Middle Island, and visiting and examining the districts which will be crossed and affected by the Midland Railway, the writer is struck by " the extraordinary richness of these districts m a number of vegetable and mineral products, which only require development to become of immense value," and by " the ignorance which prevails even m the colony, and still more m England, of these marketable resources." Among these resources he mentions the wool, wheat, barley, and oats of the Canterbury side of the dividing range, and the bituminous and other coals, goldbearing quartz, marble, copper and iron ores, antimony, and other minerals of Westland, and suggests that a Museum should be opened m connection with the Company's office m London of such products of these particular districts, and of the Middle Island generally, as will be made available by the railway. He further suggests that each article exhibited should be accompanied by a brief clearly-written description, and that the Secretary, or such other official as the Company may appoint, should keep a book m which the position, quantity, and value of each particular product should be fully described and all information about it kept. This book, like the Museum itself, to be constantly increased by fresh information and additions from the colony, and the Exhibition to be open to the public at stated hours, and advertised m some of the chief city and scientific newspapers. He points out that the formation of such a Museum would not present any great difficulty, and states that several gentlemen have already volunteered to, supply specimens of grain of different descriptions, himself engaging, if the plan he recommends be adopted, to supply specimens of West Coast timber, including black birch, rimu, white and red pine, etc. In support of his suggestion, he says : — '•Colonial Exhibitions and Jubilee Institutions will no doubt do much to spread a better knowledge of this country and its products m England, and to restore the somewhat impaired credit of New Zealand. But for the purpose of making known m financial and commercial circles of London the value of these particular districts, such Exhibitions and Institutions ate too general, and their results too slow. Visitors to them are more or less confused by a great number of exhibits from all British possessions, and even when they confire their attention to New Zealand they find products and specimens from many parts of both Islands collected together so that it is impossible to obtain any idea oi the special resources of the lands which will gradually become the property of the Midlandly Railway Company, or of thos3 which will be improved by its line, without especial study and many laborious enquiries, for which the general public has neither the time nor the inclination." These remarks are obviously sound and sensible, and the reasons given by Mr Avigdor are amply sufficient to convince the public of the expediency of carrying out his suggestion. We think that the Chamber of Commerce might very appropriately lend its aid m this matter, and we hope that Mr Avigdor's idea will be carried j into practical effect without any unnecessary delay.