Museum Planning 100 Years Ago

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 15

Museum Planning 100 Years Ago

One hundred years ago this month, the Canterbury Provincial Government (by public notice in "The Press”) called tenders for the "erection of a museum in the Government Domain, Christchurch.” Although the plan was thwarted until 1870, the authorities of the day were planning—just as the present Museum Trust Board was now planning a building to mark its centennial, the Director (Dr. R. S. Duff) told the board at its last meeting. The Museum librarianarchivist (Mr J. C. Wilson) has searched 100-year-old records and found that Julius von Haast had been urging accommodation for his geological collections and the Provincial Council, in three successive sessions, had voted money for a museum. Mr Wilson’s report to the board said:—

“Late in 1865 Haast again wrote, informing the Government that unless more room was allotted for the collections, the geological survey of the province would be seriously impeded. To meet the problem he proposed the erection of a public museum in the Botanic Gardens. A temporary wooden building of two large rooms, lighted from the roof, would be ample to meet the needs of the collections for the next five to six years.

"In his view, the building would be a great boon not only for the advancement of science, but also for the instruction and amusement of the. inhabitants and visitors. V

"The reply to his proposals came six months later. In April, 1866, the Government advised him that it had decided to call tenders for a suitable building for the use of his department The answer, however, must have fallen short of what Haast hoped for. The expenditure authorised was limited to £750. Haast had estimated the cost at £l5OO. To add further to the doubts as to whether the Government had a clear understanding of the objectives, a month later it was resolved that the building should be erected of brick and roofed with corrugated iron according to the plan to be drawn up by the provincial engineer. “So it was according to these specifications builders lodged their tenders in midJune, 1866. “The industry showed a keen interest in the contract and 11 tenders were received including ones from William Brassington and John Buxton, both of whom had worked on the Provincial Council Buildings,” said Mr Wilson. "The tenders, which ranged from £663 to £985, were considered by the Government on June 18. Decision was deferred. With the deepening of the economic crisis of the province, and possibly because of more ambitious schemes for the museum, the proposals for a Canterbury museum building were halted until March, 1869.”