MR DREWS MUSEUM.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 61, 17 January 1883, Page 3

MR DREWS MUSEUM.

We had the pleasure of making a short ■■visit to the museum of Mr Drew, of Wanganui, a few days ago. Mr Drew was particularly kind in pointing out the most remarkable of the many specimens •of natural history he possesses, also the (numerous native and other curiosities in his coUectioa. Space will not permit us to give any detailed account of the many objects interesting to the naturalist or the antiquary, which are noticeable in the •collection ; in fact it would take a volume i;o describe them. We can only mention tiiat the land snd sea birds of New Zealand aire well represented, and the specimens are well prepared, showing that Mr Drew's skill as a taxidermist is considerable. The bull trout killed a few days •ago in the Makirikiri srream, and wbich was at first believed to be a Californian •salmon, -has -be-an stuffed and preserved so that mot only arc tbe natural tints of the fish retained, *but liardly a scale is missing irom -it. The collection of fossil shells, made -for the most part at ithe Shakespeare cliff-:, near "Waagamot, is •very -complete and contain* come varieties entirely new to concbologists. The | mumerous varieties of insect life, consisting of beetles, flies, weevils — all with most formidable scientific titles — is very .-interesting, and Mr Brew gave us a short sketch of their habits and customs, which showed he was a keen observer of them .and their habitants. We must -conclude •our brief notice by stating that in our •opinion Wanganui possesses in this •collection what would make the nucleus of a museum <which would soon a High jjosition in the colony. We Venture to say tfhst 'Mr Drews' private ha 3 .few superiors and hope tbat he will continue to add to it, not only for the sake of *his children, for •whoseedneatiionilihe collections have been specially made, but for the benefit of the residents of the whole West Coast