COLONIAL MUSEUM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4483, 2 August 1875, Page 3

COLONIAL MUSEUM.

In the vicinity of the vice-regal residence is located an institution which is destined to play no unimportant part in promoting the material progress of this colony. As our readers are probably aware, the Colonial Geological Survey department is entrusted to the important task of collecting and classifying geological data which shall furnish reliable guides to the miner and speculator who is desirous of testing and developing our mineral resources. The transformation in 1865 of the Provincial Geological Survey department of Otago into that of the Colonial Geological Survey, with the consequent shifting of its habitat, tended more than any other cause to bring about the, establishment of our Colonial Museum. A plan of the future Museum was drafted about the same time, and instalments of it were from time to time erected as. our finances permitted us 'to build. At first the central portion, then the north wing, and now we have just added the south wing in completion of the original design. As we have intimated, the original plan of the building, as a whole, has been adhered to. But mature consideration has suggested certain alterations in details, which appear to us to be very decided improvements on the original plan. These we now submit to our readers, feeling assured that they will endorse our opinion. The original plan of the Museum consisted of a large rectangular-shaped room, with a wing at each end, of the same shape and area. This was the Museum proper. In the rear was placed the laboratory. The front elevation ' consisted of a structure of two storeys, with a verandah on the basement storey. The following modifications of this plan have been made, by which more space is gained, and the general appearance of the building in no wise detracted from :—The directors' room, library, offices, &c, occupy the space originally allotted to the verandah. The increased space gained by this arrangement is filled up with two drafting rooms, thus enabling the architect to substitute a handsome lecture-room on the first storey for the displaced draftingrooms on the original plan. In the following description events have been somewhat anticipated, and certain details are described as they will finally appear when the buildings are handed over to the authorities. This is expected to take place about the end of next month. We will now invite our readers to accompany us over the buildings in tha order of our visit of yesterday. The ground plan of the structure hi front of the Museum proper is divided by a handsome entrance hall, having on each sido an arcade composed of arches turned on pillars of choice wood, highly polished, with carved capitals. The walls are wainscotted with kauri and rimu, also highly polished. The ceiling of the entrance hall, as well as those of the arcades, is formed of pannelled work in white cement, the mouldings being chastely designed. On the light of the entrance hall we have, besides the offices, a commodious room fitted up as a library. At present it contains some 1800 volumes on scientific subjects. On the left are disposed, besides offices, the director's room and two drafting rooms. The rooms on the basement are ceiled in white cement and wainscotted in polished wood.. We will now ascend the stairs and visit the lecture-room, which occupies the whole of the space over the basement storey. The lecture-room is lofty ceiled and walled, in white cement, and in shape forms a regular parallelogram, measuring 60ft. in length, by a breadth of 30ft. This room has no windows on the side abutting on the Museum, but windows, consisting of three light, are let into the walls on the remaining sides. A door towards each end of this room communicates with the gallery of the Museum. The ground plan of the Museum consists of a central room, measuring in length some 75ft., by a breadth of 42ft, and having a wing at each end of the same area. The «entral room and the wings are open throughout. The roof, which is ceiled in white cement and hipped, and fitted with corridor windows, is some 25ft. in height. The Museum will be lighted at night with sunlights and gas jets, strung upon the iron columns that support the roof, as well as the gallery that runs round more than two-thirds of the building. This gallery is some 10ft. in width; and is provided with a neat wooden balustrade. The walls are painted a pale grey. In conclusion, we way add that on the expected completion of the building by the end of August, immediate steps will be taken by the officials for arranging the exhibits, which will occupy somo few months. Some time will, therefore, elapse before the Museum will be ' ready for the admission of the public.