OTAGO MUSEUM

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1930, Page 2

OTAGO MUSEUM

FELS WING OPENED

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, October 15

This afternoon, Sir Frederick Chapman opened the AVillie Fels AA ing o. the Otago Museum. • It was largely owing to the efforts of Air Fels that the wing was established. In addition he donated a valuable collection of ethnological and other exhibits. Hence the new building hears Ins name. Dr. Marshall MacDonald, chairman of the Extension Committee, traced the history of the scheme which ended in to-day”s ceremonv, and handed the building over to Mr AA r . J. Morrell, A r ice-Chancellor of the University, who accepted it with gratitude.

Sir Frederick Chapman, an old resident of Dunedin, received a heart;/ •reception in declaring the new building open to the public.

A letter was received from the Governor-General, who was unable to attend, in which he gave information of interest bearing on the welfare oi the museum. The new wing is already filled with exhibits, including relics and the famous Maori house .made by the Ngatiawa tribe and presented to Queen Victoria. Afterwards this house was in the AVembley Exhibition, and now it lias found a home in the new building in Dunedin. The collection includes many interesting and valuable relics and curios from Rome, Greece and other countries. It was originally decided to endeavour to raise £25,000 for 1 the building fund, and a further £IOOO for furnishing the new wing. This money was found comparatively easily, and by the time that a Government subsidy of £25.000 was forthcoming there was accrued interest to the value of some thousands of pounds. The result was that trie committee was able to pay out £30,000 for .building . and furnishing, leaving a further J sum of approximately £27,000 to be devoted to an endowment fund.