TARANAKI MUSEUM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 58, 28 February 1902, Page 2

TARANAKI MUSEUM.

OPENING CEKMMONIES, Notwitiistandino the downpour of rain laab eveuirg the Borough Council Chamber was packed to overflowing,) and the outside lobby thronged witli take part in the opening of the Taranaki Museum. The committee should feel well rewarded for their efforts when the public take such a keen interest in the opening ceremonies. It was certainly a very happy thought to ask Mr Percy Smith to lecture, and his subject was do happily chosen and so admirably handled that it made the gathering one of tbe most interesting 6ver held in New Plymouth.

The proceeding* were commenced by his Worship the Mayor, who occupied the chair, giving a very interesting history of the steps taken to accomplish the event now brought to a successful issue. The committee to,whom great credit was due consisted of the Mayor ex officio, a member of the Council (who had never bean elected), Messrs Spencer, Lod. secretary, K. Bayly, Newman, and W. H. Skinner, it was to this* four gentlemen the successful carrying out ef the desire of the people t> have a Museum was reilly due, and he hud been asked to specially thank Meesrs Bayly and Spencer for thtir uotiricg efforts on behalf cf the committee and the pubic generally. While expressing gratification at the number of exhibits secured, ho regretted that owing to his hurried departure they had nut yet receivw 1 a collection of Transvaal curios promised by Trooper (low Captain) Cout:s. He hoped everyone would remember the existence of the museum, ai d also remind their friends, so that additions might be made to the collection from time to time. Money contributions would also be welcome, as there weie artie'es that could only be stcuivd by purchase. He would no* call upon the secretary to say a few . words on the financial aspect. I Mr Spencer, after expressing the gratitude of the committee for the handsome support so far received, said | the committee's expenditure so far had; been £2l 2s 6d, while the rtceipts had | been—the Mayor £2, A Friend £5, Mr McGuire, M.H.R, £1 Is, Ambury : Bros. £1 Is, £. A. E. Clarke XI, a 'total of £lO 38. They thus started with a liability of £lO 19s <5 J, which he 'hoped soon to see reduced. It wjs ' difficult to describe the contents of the i museum ; many ef the things were cf considerable monetary value. Exhibits wera still o. 'mil g in, and sii ce tV meeting started ftJr Paul, on bibaif of his son (Sergeant G. P»ul), had handed him a belt decorated with the badges of the regiments serving in the Transvaal. The committee had Dot been able 'to acknowledge every exhibit sent ir>, and anyone who had not received an acknowledgment would kindly accept his apologies. The Mayor then called upon Mr Percy Smith to give the opening j address.

Mr Smith, who was very heartily ; received, began by referring to iime celebrated museums and art collisions , which had had very email beginnings, : They must cot therefore despite the jday of small things. He well rei msmbered when tha Auckland muteum ' was in one or two small rooms, and j now the museum snd art gallery w*s | one of the in the colonies. He then went on to refer to the educational value of a museum; indeed it was harifly possible for the studeut ti make satisfactory progress without; one. Every one should have a hobby, he had bis, and the pursuit of it gave him many happy hours, and gave great interest to life. They should ttcour£ge tbeir young people, of whom he was glad to sea so many present, to j have a hobby, and to benefit fully I y it. Collections for referenda purports 'were very nec.-ssary. Take the case of fern collecting; everyone was f md of ferns, but the interest «as vtiy much enhanced if the collector could go to a collection all marked true to name and make his comparisins. Young people should be taught to find out the true names of any cullectio's thoy secured. As time went on the work of collecting native curios became more difficult, but should ba prosecuted as diligently as possible, because they were becoming more and more scarce. One thing he desired to impress upon them was to try aud secure the true native name. In this conniction Mr Smith pointed out the gr eat similarity in the names of many article', trees, places, etc., common in New Zealand with those used in many of th>j Souh Sea Islands. During his lito visit t<> the Islands he had been struck with some of the names, and he gave a number of illustrations to explain his meaning' This brought up tho question of the whence of the Maori, and Mr Smith gave an exceedingly interesting description of his visit to Tonga, Hiwaii, in connection with his history of the Maori, and he r.ferred to tha various theories advanced to account fur the similarity existing betweeu the Maori, his hubi.s aul cu-touis and language, and the inhabitants of those Is amis. There very little doubt but thai they ivere of the same i ace, and, spreading from a common centre, had taken the native ui'snnurs, etc,, with them. Mr Smith dwelt at some length on the evidence of this and the difficulties he had in prosecuting hi* researches, He considered there little doubt but thai India was tho t'atherkud of the Polynesian races. India was settled about 2000 B.C. aud the people gradually spread to th« s«a coast. About 400 B.C. a greit migration took place ; the ancestors of the Maoii spread to Java, and 200 a.d. spread away through the South S a Islands. The Maori had no chronology, but many of them could tntce their «bc«s-

tors back for one hundred grnatHimL,'' and the difference between the seventy authorities wu very small - net nam than thrte or four generations. Mr Smith gave a very interesting aoootmfe of what he called the great exedtwn The pathway to the east mi by way of | Sumatra, The race spread out amongst | the island, and got food of the ses,andl i became in the time of Queen Elisabeth* the greatest navigators in the worldMr Smith in a very interesting manner traced their routes as population increased, Colonies were sint out to* find new lands in which to settle, bbJI finally reached New Zealand in the fit historical canoes Arawa, Taonui Mstatttun, Tikitinui, Takomaru and Aotsa " about 1350. Mr Smith referred briefly to the Maoriri, the race found here by the Maori, and concluded by Myiog that bis remarks were intended te »bo»J» how interesting the history of New Zealand was and the value of ands*! l native weapons, etc., in traciog thr history of the race inhabiting it. Thai* curios should be carefully preserved,, and above all be would impress on the young people again the neoeisity of seeing that wery article in their eel* lections was truly named. Mr Smith resumed his teat amidst prolonged applause. Mr. E. M. Smith, M.H.8., said he

had very great pleasure in moving a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Percy Smith for his very interesting addrers. He spoke of the advantages of having the h«ad-quarters of the Polynesian Society in New Plymouth* and urged that a suitable bone for it including museum and art g»U«y should be erected. This oast wav he said, the birth place of the Mltrt race in New Zealand, as the fie—had landed the first Maoris halt tad the stone anohor of one of then*** lyicg at Mokau and sheuld be MOStd for the museum. Mr. Smith mentioned that be bad secured a flying fish, an albatross, and last but not least a hit of that great statesman, Sir Hatty Atkinson. Mr. Smith advocated eanaing the lecturer Home es he said be could purchase native curios far more easily in London than elsewhere. Am a member for the district he woold give any movement to erart a suitable building fer a mussum and art gallery every assistance in hie power. The motion was seconded by Mr. \V. Skinner and carried with applause. The Mayor thro asked every on* piesent to leave their names with the secretary on a slip of paper as it was intended to enter them in a book as a memento ot the occasion of the opening of the museum. The.Secretary, Mr. Hpeooer, than escorted Mrs. Dockrill to the door at the museum and handed b«-r the key with whioh she unlocked tbe door and the Mayor (Mr. Dookrill) declared the museum duly open. We understand that the room will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. this afternoon find from 2 to 4.30 on Saturday. We are compelled to held over a dea» cription of the museum which was crowded all the evening.