A COLONIAL MUSEUM IN LONDON.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1655, 10 June 1879, Page 3

A COLONIAL MUSEUM IN LONDON.

The idea of providing a permanent colonial museum in London has been revived. The " Colonies and India " thus describes the present state of the project. "It i 3," says that journal, " with a feeling of great satisfaction that wo learn that some stops have been taken that are likely to have an important influence upon the carrying out of the project for the establishment in Lmdon of a Colonial Museuin, or rather, as it might more appropriately bo termed, a Permanent Colonial Exhibition. It will bo remembered that at tho close of the Paris Exhibition the Prince of AVales informed the Colonial Commissioners that such of the exhibits as they desired to bo preserved could be placed at South Kensington for a twelvemonth, pending communication with tho colonies as to their final destination. It has all along been acknowledged by the great majority of those interested in the propoeal that South Kensington would, from its position, be eminently unsuitable for an Exhibition intended to bo popular amongst the mercmtile and working classes, and to bo available with every facility to those anxious to become acquainted with colonial products. An alternative site was that of Old Fife House, at Whitehall; but recently it has been thought, owing to tho apparently iusurinountable difficulties in the way of bringing to a successful issue tho schomc for orecting a National Opera House on tho Thames Embankment, that that 3ite, with so much of the building as is already put up, might be obtained for the Colonial Exhibition. Accordingly, at the suggestion of some who have taken an active part in keeping tho project before tho public, tho Agent- Generals for tho Australian Colonies appiiud to tho present lessees of the property to know if tho site could be ob'ained, and at what price. A reply, which may bo looked upon as vary favourable, has, we understand, been received, and it had been communicated to the various Colonial Governments. Tho action taken by the Agent-Generals was merely to ask for certain information, which •was given, and there their work ended._ It rests with the Governments of tho various colonies throughout the Empire to tako further steps, and wo sincerely hope that, coneidering the almost unanimous approval and promises of support already received in favor of the establishment of the Museum, that equal alacrity will be shown by the colonies in giving in their adhesion to the present proposal, and that arrangements will at once be made for securing the site and erecting a building that will be an honor to tho metropolis, tho colonies, and tho Empire, and will in every way be suitable for the magnificent display of colonial products intended to bo exhibited there."