THE MUSEUM.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 8, 9 June 1874, Page 3

THE MUSEUM.

After a short recess for cleaning and arranging the large number of specimens collected, and also to allow of rmk ! ng arrangements for the reception of a large number of new articles, the Museum was opened to the public yesterday. Prominent among the arldihVis is ihc alligator Big Ben, formerly the Ht-tructi-m " r Mr Gourlay's Royal Exhibition, and several smaller alligators which have been set up in in the lower room of the Museum, where they will doubtless attract as many visitors as they have during their peregrinations. Dr Uaast is to be congratulated upon having secured this splendid specimen for our Museum, one which is not equalled by that possessed by any Museum in the colonies. While in Sydney Mr Kreffc, the curator of the Museum there, made a very handsome offer for the large alligator alone, which was refused by Mr Gourlay. In the matter of amphone, patera, and other antiquities, notably coins and medals, the Museum has also since its closing received large additions ; indeed as regards the collection of the two former items the Canterbury Museum stands very high, the collection beiug alike unique as regards the patterns and also the undoubted antiquity of the various items which fill two large cases. The collection of coins has also been enriched by some very antique specimens, and the lovers of old and rare coins have a great treat before them in the contents of these two cases. Further _round the •gallery is a case containing foieil bones of ithe cave bear, one of the gigantic relics of past ages, the skull being larger than that of rthe largest known lion, and a magnificent specimen. Near this case is one containing ■casts of the fossil bonea of elephants from Italy : these specimens are well worth careful examination, being beautifully executed, and of great interest to those who make a study of the fossil remains of the extinct animals.

It is much to be regretted that the space at Dr Haast's disposal is so limited—sol much so indeed, that to make room for the additions spoken of, a number of specimens have had to be removed and put away. Besides this, there are now waiting for space in which to set them up some hundreds of specimens of birds and beasts of various kiuds, the drawers beneath the cases being filled to overflowing' with them, simply because there is no room for them. It is not too much to say that the present collection of the Museum—creditable as it is alike to the province and the director —could be doubled at once if sufficient floor space were at Dr Haast's disposal. Something will shortly'have to be done in this direction, as nearly all the museums throughout Europe, -America, and Australasia are constantly sending exchanges to ns, the greater part of which, for want of room simply, have to remain hidden from the public. The additions to the Museum are as follows : —Further collection of Roman antiquities, comprising amongst other items, cut stones and intaglios from the temple of Diocletian at Spolito. Celtic antiquities in iron and bronze. Roman antiquities found in Pompeii and at Agrigentium (the present Girgenti), in the island of Sicily, being illustrative of the first Roman epoch ; also Greco-Italian antiquities found in the same spot. Egyptian antiquities, including small figures of deities and stones bearing inscriptions. Phoenician antiquities found at Paros, Sardinia. Amongst the above are some beautiful classic vases, tazzas, amphorae &c. of great rarity and purity of shape. In the department of coins there has been added a very fine collection of medals of the middle ages and also of more recent date ; coins of the Roman Empire from Cassar to Johannes I; silver coins of various Roman Emperors found amongst the remains of the Lake dwellings at Lake Varese, Lombardy ; also a number found at Phillippi, Macedonia. To the fossils, large additions have been made, prominent amongst which is a case in the gallery at the northern end containing the fossil bones of the cave bear, excavated in the cave of Laglio on the Lake of Como. This is a vf ry interesting specimen, and worth a visit of inspection. Near this case is one containing casts—remarkably well executed —of the fossil elephants of Italy, which are also well deserving notice. Altogether, the recent additions to the Museum have been of a character likely—while still further increasing its attraction as an agreeable place to spend an idle hour—to afford greater opportunities to those desirous of educating themselves in the various branches of science and natural history, by actual inspection of the articles therein contained.