RE-OPENING OF THE MUSEUM.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1423, 6 September 1878, Page 3

RE-OPENING OF THE MUSEUM.

Tho new portion of the Museum was formally opened by His Excellency the Governor yesterday at noon. His Excellency, who was accompanied by Captain Le Patourel, A.D.O. and the officers of tho Nymphe, was received by tho Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr W. Montgomery, and tho following members of the Board of Governors - Messrs W. Rolleston, F. de c. Malet, Enys, Potts, H. R. Webb, H. J. Tancred, R. W. Fereday, E. C. J. :Stevens, Rev. O. Frascr, and Dr. Coward. The following professors were also prosont—Professor Bickerton, and Professor Von Fouzleman, Von Haast. His Excellency having been escorted into the inner room of tho Museum. Mr W. Montgomery said—Your Excellency on the part of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College, I beg to wclcomo you on the occasion of your visit hero for the purpose of re-opening tho Museum. Your Excellency, we appreciate very highly the kindness displayed by you on this occasion in coming down to open thisMnseum, which has been considerably enlarged, and is now replete with objects of interest and instruction. It is now about a year and a half ago since your Excellency camo down hero to open our College, and wo aro again glad to welcome your Excellency on this occasion, knowing as we do the great interest you take in the work of education for tho people. Again allow me, on behalf of tho Canterbury College, to express their gratitude to your Excellency for having, at their request, consented to re-open tho Museum.

His Excellency—Mr Montgomery, ladies, and gentlemen, it is now a little more than a year ago since I had the pleasure to open to some extent tho Museum in which wo are now assembled. I can assure you it is a great gratification to me to be present on this occasion to perform the ceremony of re-opening the Museum after tho additions which have been made to it. In this colony tho education of the people is a matter of tho greatest importance, and thoro are few means by which this can be more effectively done than by the establishment of free public libraries and such institutions as this. When one rcflocts on the very short time that this district of Canterbury has been settled—l believe under thirty years since—which in tho life of a nation is but as a day in that of a man, it is positively marvellous that such an institution as tho one wo are now in should havo been able to be established. I had yesterday tho privilege of a private view, and I can assuro you that I was astonished to find the very largo amount of articles in all departments or science and art which havo been collected here. I can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that there aro few collections, even in the old country, which can boast of being so thoroughly complete in all departments as this one is, and I congratulate you heartily and sincerely, and tho people of Canterbury, on tho completion of the work. The Museum will not only afford instruction but amiiEcment to tho general public. I trust that it will continue to improve, and that tho people of Canterbury may long continue to enjoy the benefits arising from this and kindred institutions for the education of the people. [Cheers.] I now declare the Museum open. [Cheers,] His Excellency and party were then conducted over the Museum by Dr. Von Haast. THE MUSEUM. The want of additional spaco to meet tho growing necessities of the Museum led to the alterations that were carried out some two years ago, but a total re-arrangement was found necessary for the proper display of the collections. How well thiß has been done by Dr. Von Haast will bo apparent by making the tour of the several departments. Tho architectural alterations have already been described in this journal, the latest addition being the handsome portico facing Antigua street. The contents of the Museum have been altogether reclassified and rearranged. Tho room containing the valuable collection of skeletons and anatomical specimens and preparations was formerly the entrance to the building, and led up a flight of steps to the old gallery. It measures 30i't. by 30ft., and is furnished, like the rest of the departments, with glass cases running round the walls. These cases contain a large collection of skulls, together with some perfect human skeletons, as well as those of the python or boa constrictor, cod, kangaroo, emu, reindeer, and ostrich. In this room also are exhibits of rare fishes, birds, and reptiles, and many rare varieties of the latter preserved in spirits of wine. On tho top cases may be seen the sun fish, dolphin, and porpoises. Adjoining tho room just described is tho apartment devoted to Paheontological specimens. This room is 50ft. by 30ft. A principal feature in this department is the line collection of casts, which would _ be ' creditable to many much older institutions than the Museum in Christchurch. There is an extinct gigantic armadillo, or glyptodon, the original of which is in tho Museum of Dijon. Some casts of extinct animals of the antediluvian era, notably the Dinotherium giganteum, the EJepbas ganesa, and the mastodon, claim the attention of the visitor at once. There aro also casts of the Ichthyosaurus intermodius (the original being in the British Museum), the Ichthyosaurus tenuirostris, the skeleton of an extinct sea lizard, the fore-paddle of the Pliosaurus'grandis, and casts of tho footprints of extinct animals in America, tho original of which aro preserved in the Appleton Cabinet, Amherst, Massachusetts. Around this room is arranged a type collection of fossils in cases. The casts include one of a stone lily, one of an extinct crab, and one of a human skeleton imbedded in limestone One case contains some rare relics, in tho shape of fossilised elephants' teeth, tusks, jaw, and other bones. A very beautiful collection of corals also contributes to the attractions of this room. In the centro are the skull and bones of tho cavo bear, from the Laglio cave at Lake Como. G-enerally speaking, the pahcontological specimens are particularly numerous and choice in the extinct animal kingdom, but they also include a valuable collection of fossil shells and plants. Tho old gallery is devoted principally to tho products of New Zealand. Tim staircase leading to it has b»™ so as to rise from fV. lower floor ot the old Museum. The exhibits ot minerals, ores, timbers, and rocks are numerous, and highly valuable and interesting. The original large room in the zoological department, winch contains the moa skeletons, is devoted to the same purpose still. The centre, being railed in by an extended barrier, contains other large specimens, in addition to the fine moa skeletons of the original collection. The cases to the left on entering the room contain articulated moa skeletons for the purposes of study. On the right hand is a collection of New Zealand birds re-arranged in a very artistic and picturesque manner. At the side of the entrance is a case of specimens of New Zealand fish, and at the foot of tho staircase is a nest of Now Zealand birds, next to which is placed a case of bird bones, for comparison with tho moa epecimons. The .passage from the moa room to tho Maori house contains two cases, in which are shown a collection of New Zealand birds' eggs, collected by Mr T. H. Potts. The walls are hung with choice photographs

of New Zealand scenery, and water colour paintings of the Weka Pass Rock paintings. The Maori house has been untouched. Access is gained from the skeleton room to the new portion of the building by a corridor about Oft. wide by 54ft. in length, lined on either side with choice framed engravings, amongst which is a very noticeable collection of line and mezzotintos by tho principal engravers of the last century. Tho corridor terminates with the new entrance, which is very spacious, and leads directly into the principal room of tho new building, which is 90ft. long and 45ft. wide This hall contains foreign'/mammals, large amphibia, and large remarkable skeletons. Of the latter, to the right of tho entrance, is the Megatherium Cuvieri, a fossil gigantic sloth from the Pampas, South America. Opposite stands tho Elephas Indicus skeleton, a large male East Indian elephant, and in another corner wo find the skeleton of the Megaceros Hibernicus, the gigantic fossil Irish elk, and on the other side, and in tho fourth cornor, the Rhinoceros .unicornis of India. In the centre is a fine Crocodilus porosus, from North Queensland, Fitzroy River. Behind is tho Alligator luscius (America) and two large turtles, Chelonia mydas and Thalassochelys Caouna. The wall spaces contain recently acquired mammals, tho chief of which are the two first large casos. Tho animals are picturesquely grouped, and are in various positions, some crouching and others erect. In the right-hand case are tho Felida', or cat tribe. It contains two line lions, pumas, leopards, and fine specimens of tho Royal tiger, jaguar, and panther. The opposite case contains tho Ursida*, or bear family, of which arc the following specimens :—Grizzly and black bear families, polar bear, and a pair of gluttons. Tho Bix cases between tho windows contain smaller mammals, and at the end of all a number of larger mammals, including specimens of Indian elephant, rhinoceros, bison (North America), quagga (South Africa), koodoo antelope of South America, sacred bull of Hindostan. Ascending to tho gallery is a fine collection of foreign birds arranged round the walls. On the left hand are several cases of birds of prey, especially rare and well preserved. Amongst these are a fino pair of condors, and a wedge-tailed eaglo. In order to break the uniformity, a number of these birds have been grouped, of which the lyre birds of Australia, the trogons of Central America, tho humming birds of South America, are tho first to strike the ejo. Next comes a magnificent case of birds of Paradise, containing many raro specimens. In a recess stands an ostrich over 7ft. high, a fino specimen. Tho case running right along the eastern wall contains tho parrots, pigeons, amongst which a group of tho crowned pigeons of New Guinoa forms a beautiful object. Then come tho pheasants, some of which show splendid plumage. Capercailie, blackcock, ptarmigan, quail, and partridge. Then waders and gceso and ducks. Gulls, divers, penguins and pelicans are grouped round the door. The desk cases around the gallery aro chiefly devoted to foreign shells, a truly magnificent collection, many specimens being very rare. A few cases aro dovoted to Echinodormata, starfish and sea eggs, and to a collection of foreign crustaceans, mostly from the tropical seas. Descending again a few steps entrance is gained to the statuary room, also lighted from the roof ; it is a great improvement on the former in being better lighted, and in the arrangement of tho works. Through and beyond the statuary room is the ethnographical room, 82ft long and 30ft wide, and very interesting, on account of the variety of the collection. Three high central casos, each surmounted by a glass case with two shelves, the first contains Egyptian, Etruscan, Roman and Phoenician antiquities. The second contains Roman, Etruscan, ancient British, Peruvian pottery and antiquities, as well as a largo collection of coins.

The third contains specimens of ceramic art, principally tho gift of Mr Coo. Could, medals and somo recent Asiatic and African curios. Between the larger cases, and also in the centre, aio two smaller cases containing specimens of nativo art from Solomon Islands, Fiji, Australia, New Guinea, Africa, America, and Ciiina. The walls havo been used either for cases or are hung with trophies. To the right of the small staircase hang ancient armour and weapons from Europe. The further end of tho room is adorned by the large oil painting of Gibbon Wakefield, the gift of his son, while that of Captain Cook, a copy from the picture in Greenwich Hospital, hangs upon one of the walls. This also is a gift of Mr Geo. Gould.