HISTORICAL RECORDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2741, 8 April 1916, Page 3

HISTORICAL RECORDS

A COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

An interesting collection of photographs of great historical value _ has just been secured for tho Dominion Museum from Mr. AY. H. Gordon, of Now Plymouth. These pictures are now displayed as a special in the library-of the Museum, and this special exhibition was opened by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) yesterday. The pictures are mostly portraits of men who took active part in the 'making of history in this country during the turbulent days of the Maori wars. There are also photographs of famous places where great fights- were fought, from which places now time and the plough have obliterated most traces of once formidable fortifications. The collection is a surprisingly large .one.

The Hon. G. W. Russell,/ in 'his opening speech, said that for many years. Mr. Gordon, himself a veteran of tlio Maori wars, hacj been engaged in getting together his very fino collection. Some of .the exhibits Mr. Gordon bad obtained in England, on a special visit he made for this purpose. Tho collection could be regarded as the beginning of a new departure in the affairs of the Museum. The Science and Art' Board, ivhich had now got into working order after remaining dormant for two or three years, proposed, if funds should be obtainable from the Government, to set about establishing a record of the remarkable early history of this country. Unfortunately many documents, pf surpassing interest to Now Zealand had forever been .secured for Australian Museums, _ amongst them being the original diary of Sir Joshua Banks, when he came here with Captain Cook. Good collections of local interest were already in'Ohristchurch and Auckland. But .'he thought the time, had come when in addition to the provincial collections there should be a national one relating .to the affairs of New Zealand, the early -wars, and the 'growth of the country .during the tinfe it had been inhabited by white people. The Board of Science and Art proposed that in the new Museum,' which he hoped ■would bo built not far from the prbsent site, there should' be one floor, in the first, part of the building to he Greeted, set apart for an historical section. The board had at once set to work, to obtain the best collection obtainable, - and the first instalment was the collection now on view—a collection which -would have remarkable interest for the l people of this country for all time. Presently it -was ■ hoped that other valuable documents, bow in private hands, would be obtained. He had very much pleasure in formally declaring the exhibition open for puib. lie view. ' ■ v