Moth Balls And Mastodons

NZ Truth, Issue 1193, 11 October 1928, Page 6

Moth Balls And Mastodons

A COUNTERPART of "£ Tumbledown Shack m Ath- , lone, " is the dilapidated building m Wellington which houses tHe collection of musty exhibits labeU led ' 'The Dominion Museum. "~ A NOTICE at the front door says loud . . and clear: "Open . from twelve noon."— That is on. Monday morning. But burglarious- entries: have been effected ere' how and just by pushing a door that looks locked' and Isn't,: any old stranger can be alone -in adis-infectant-smeili -desert. .'•> - Gifts to the museum of any real elm-' portance have been decidedly rare m the last few years. The collection, even if.it were properly, displayeja, isn't going to cause any weeping- and gnashing of teeth among envious tors. ' :.-■ •■'.'- ..'.."• ..' ;'/'"'■■ ■'-. We have one mummy, complete with, case, though a trifle gnawecl about the tees, not a Pharaoh, but the son of a priestess, and probably the best that Egypt could, do for us. . '.: ... . . ". .._.,'• : . -■-.■';■•,■ Two rather splendid Chinese robes provide lonely patches of color and some attempt has been made to' describe the whys and wherefores; pi these exhibits. . ' ';: Just one seat is provided for the! joy and consolation of the public. .Reclining thereon, one beholds (a), several empty, or partly emptyshowcases/presumably the future homes of ;the "'exhibits now being cleaned; (b) penguins, grouped against a painted background of a Reckitt's'sea. : : i It seems that for the good of the people, some, at least, of those penguins should be taken, down ■■'anil sol.d. at. bazaars. . After all, men will buy almost anything when trapped m bazaars, so. why not a stuffed penguin, which might be quite ,haridy as a pincushion, rither than a pink flannelette kettleholder; or some outrage of that ilk? ■ V Unwanted bones The proceeds might go ; towards .buying a. modern; showcase. ; ; r v - Then again, there's .the skeleton turtle with which Sir George Grey, probably m the days or his thoughtless youth, presented the public. : Skeleton turtles ■ must at all times be "hard : to dispose of. ■•'■* .:.."; A vogue, for skeletons prevails m "the upper gallery, where one is greeted by the half-hearted smile of a whole row of skulis. ' V. ■ They would be much less depressing if buried. After all, a museum should be more than a rest-home for ;un--wknted bones. . ' ' ;'". Passing the whale, Tasmanian blacfcflsh and shark, whose, remnants festoon the walls, one stops to admire.'tßa white alplaca v and to wpnder what' it would think "if it could twi^t . it& : ' ; ne'ck around and notice the large, i&tch .that moths have eaten from the; Tniddle of its back/ „.' ■ '■' '.' '": ' "•':', ' : --.,.. v ";'':+_'. ■ There are several leagues ;bf boa ■ constrictor, but owing to space .difficulties, the unfortunate beast has been coiled into a Gordian knot, and doesn't look its best. r * ;;■ :. Gleams of grace appear among the butterfly, collection and there is "nothing against the mammoth cray fish/— nor the sponges. ; ■ .' . ;.; ,-;j^. The dust of ages lies thicl< on - many exhibits, anb* a spiderwefr hardly improves the inside of the moa's beak. ■■ '■ "• : - ■••■■"■■''■'"'- ■ '■ _'-i ' But, perhaps," the nioa shouldn't have kept his .mouth "open, m company. • '-. Jit all events, spring' cleaning day? is -an awkward time for •callers, and probably when; the new regime gets under way there will be less reason for the- visitor to yearn for a dustless duster and a free permit to use same. ' "