PROPOSED HISTORICAL COLLECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1917, Page 1

PROPOSED HISTORICAL COLLECTION.

CHRISTCHURCH, March 12 The proposal of the National Government to establish a national hi >- tonal collection, deserves more elaboration tlum has yet been accorded - it (says Saturday’s Wellington “Post”). To begin with, very few people ha, o as yet any conception—or, at any rale, appreciation—of tbe unique records < f the past which are enshrined in' too Dominion Museum. Apart from ti e collection of water-colour sketches illustrating incidents of the Maori War by Major-General Robley, there is the Gordon collection of photographs of officers' and men who, in both branches of the service, did their part as men—. as pioneers and soldiers—in the hard, bravo days of the Maori Wars. • The names of many of them are writ largo in local and Dominion annals, and they wore not kept under lock and key in hopeless obscurity, but presented to the nation in the hope that the nation would not only appreciate the gift, hut that, when later generations found themselves in possession of. similar historic treasures, they would exhibit tho same measure of liberality. The Swainson collection is on view in the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts'.

Reverting to the idea of the establish meut of a National Historical Collection. Appeals for help have been sent on a systematic basis, but it is very easy to miss the owner of a historic treasure, and tho Museum authorities would he glad of any hint or suggestion Already several people have expressed their intention of bequeathing historical possessions to the nation, and some of them are of. exceptional interest. And here it may be as well to again imprests on the public that it is not only the exact “age” of a relic that counts. The collection is to be national fo tbe fullest sense of the word, in that it will endeavour to comprise collections relating to every part of the Dominion. For instance: ' A relie dated lSt>4 might be fairly ancient from one portioh of the country, but from a later-settled district historic records dated 1874 would he more than worth while. In the settlement of a country and tho consequent collection of records' dates are merely comparative.

Standing out strongly in the oo,loots of the promoters is a desire to, as it were, link up the heroes of the past—' pioneer and Maori War fighters—with their descendants direct and indirect, who have been aind are playing such a prominent part in the world-war of today. Perchance the relations of a Maori War veteran have a son or it sweetheart or a brother alt the front. Letters from him would be of interest. But even if the soldier now fighting is of a much later generation—a recent arrival, so to speak—letters from him will be welcomed. Because the heroes of to-day will bo the veterans of tomorrow, and there is no reason why their writings and doings should riot he collected while the fighting is going on, instead of leaving it to a future generation to send out a search parity such as is now in progress to discover and fill in the blanks in the past history of the Dominion. Nori'for the past or for tho present only, but for the future the design is intended. The conception is ambitious —possibly difficult of entire completion. But tho promoters have gone on the assumption that if you “hitch, your wagon to a star” you stand a very good chance of reaching a fairly high altitude. Only by dint of strenuous endeavour can any degree of success be achieved. Ait the fountain head there is enthusiasm and method, and patient attention to infinite detail. Somewhere in the Dominion lie a inumber of treasure-houses of invaluable records some in the humblest backblocks wliare, some in old and half-forgotten escritoires and work baskets, some in tho possession of the well-to-do. To all such the appeal is made. Until full space provision can be made, all such will he kept in fire-proof quarters specially provided in Parliament Buildings, so that their safety is assured. A ready and generous response to the appeal is confidently anticipated. •