NEWTOWN MUSEUM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 6

NEWTOWN MUSEUM.

SUGGESTIONS FO-R IMPROVEMENT. A CURATOE NEEDED. If there is one place where the prophetic vision of tho lion and the lamb lying down together cannot be realised with advantage it is in a natural history museum. ■ They do not disturb each other in- tho museum, but they do not blend. A critical observer who went through the museum at Newtown would discover somo companionships not quite so remarkable perhaps as tliis, but coming very close to it for strangeness. The jaguar and tiger may regard each other without an intervening Atlantic; tho space in a museum must be limited, and misfortune, doubtless, makes strange case fellows. The sacred ibis may be permitted to gaze, without astonishment, at the blue depths of Milfoid Sound, for scenic backgrounds arc a luxury in small musoums, and it is not to be expected that a single ibis should have a mimic Egypt to himself. Buti when all allowances are made, there is an absence of strict order and arrangement in the Newtown Museum which, while it confers some charm of the unexpected, detracts seriously from tho value of the place for purposes of instruction. Apart from the glass cases, it is rather as though a little corner of Mount Ararat had been walled off ( too soon after the Flood, bef ire the various birds and,beasts and creeping things had had time to sort themselves. Tho museum needs a paid (urator, with' scientin,: knowledge, who should keep Africa from trespassing on Asia, and do as Adam did in the beginning, when he gave names to all cattle. For many of the exhibits are not named, . It is time that more people took an interest in the Newtown Atusoum. Hun-, dreds of people visit it every week, but its support is left very much to chance and Mr. E. VV. Petherick. Mi. Petherick has done bravely, for he founded the museum, and gave most of the exhibits, and he is arranging now to give a very large collection which , he is obtaining from Africa and other places. He is still honorary curator of the ■ museum, but he should not have to do all th« work that cannot be done in his spare time by Mr. Perry, the Newtown librarian, 'and by the taxidermist. It is understood that a proposal will be made to the City Council to appoint a pid curator to the museum, who will classify tho exhibits and; increase its interest and value from the scientific point of view. Tho. museum, even in its present state, is a; place of great attractions: It contains a largo number of valuable speci-' mens, which are all in good order, and can' be most effectively exhibited, in the large rooms. Its lion really looks a king of beasts, its.deer and other larger animals are full-lim'bed and healthy-looking (if an animal can look healthy which is stuffed,'■ its snakes and iguanas among fallen trunks are far more life-like than they .would be if they were alive, one has such special opportunities for observing thorn, and the resplendent parrots and proud peacocks never moult. The bird section is a particularly fine one, especially the part devoted to New Zealand birds, and it will be greatly improved when a comprehensive collection of 405 specimens given by Mr. A. Yuill has been mounted. Then there, are armadillos. and porcupines, seals aad shells and oorals, dead iguanas, and tuatarae which look deadj together with a host of other things which are just 'as interesting to the scientist, although they may not take the casual eye so soon. The museum has special opportunities, also, for attracting visitors, for it is situ'ated in the midst of a populous area, and, thanks to the adjoining library and librarian, it can be kept open of an evening, when the Dominion Museum is always closed. But in spite of these advantages, room Btill exists for improving the museum and nmking it more popular, and a well-known local, scientist pointed out to a Dominion representative some directions in,which these aims could ,be served. In. '.tsf n J fist Jttw> the' museum might easily receive more subscriptions and gifts. Too much has bean left so far to'the. generosity of Hr._- Petherick. If a' paid curator of /scientific attainments was placel in "charge'there, are ; many ways' in which' he could increase public, interest in the museum. Days could be set apart for visite by school children, to whom the curator wotld explaiu the exhibits, and give useful lessons in natural history. In the evening lectures arid concerts might be given, which would add to the museum funds, and it is suggested that cricket and football ■ clubs would probably be'ready to play games for the purpose of raising funds. The museum could be made a kind of open scientific club, aad once its interest and velne had beai widely demonstrated it might be possible to practically maintain it by pnbßc subscriptions. It is pointed out that those people who do not care to giv« exhibits can make deposits for the general good. There should be a considerable future before the Nowtown Museum if it is treated in a proper way.