EARLY TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 249, 20 April 1912, Page 4

EARLY TARANAKI

ITS RECORDS AND MEMENTOES. The committee of the Carnegie Library, in their report to the annual meeting of subscribers to the institution, referring to the Xe\v 'Plymouth museum, stated that owing to the impossibility of exercising proper supervision, due to'the fact tliat the museum is in the Town Hall, and the custodian's office in tho Carnegie building, some of the more valuable exhibits have been removed into the library, and the museum in the Town Hall has been closed, and can now only be viewed on application to the custodian. It was to be regretted that the (Borough Council hud not provided proper accommodation for the museum, as it was known that valuable records ■and mementoes of the past history of the town and province were in the hands of private collectors, who would be perfectly willing to hand them over to the town, provided they were satisfied that they would be placed in a fire-proof building, and would be under proper supervision. Mr. \V. H. Skinner, who possessed one of the finest and most valuable collections in the Dominion, on leaving \ew'Plymouth intimated his willingness to donate his collection and many others would do the same. The committed hoped that the Borough Council would seriously consider the matter at the earliest opportunity, as every year some of the priceless relics passed into the hands of persons who wore not directly interested in the town, and in some cases even passed out of the Dominion. Owing to the very sparse attendance last night the matter was not discussed which is a matter for regret. '