Duking the past year the Museum building has been increased by the erection of a new wing, according to the original design. This has not only greatly increased the exhibiting space, but has also' afforded more convenient office accommodation than hitherto for the Department. A room has also been set apart as a Library for the convenience of Students at the Museum, and already contains about 1,200 volumes of useful works of reference in Natural History, &c. This Library is accessible to the public for reference, upon application to the Curator, in accordance with the rules of the Institute. A duplicate room has also been established, and during the re-arrangement of the collections a large number of duplicates have been thinned out, and arranged in it for distribution to local Museums. As far as practicable the main portion of the building is intended to be devoted exclusively to the New Zealand Geological Collections, and the exhibiting portion of the new wing to type collections of various kinds intended for general instruction. Por the present the Natural History Collections are placed wherever there is convenient space for them; but ultimately, with the exception of the shells, they should be distinctly separated from the Geological portion of the Museum. At the date of last report the total number of specimens in the Museum was 15,239, which has now been increased by 2,075, making a total of 17,314 specimens. Collections of Birds, Shells, recent and fossil Moa Bones, Coals, and Associated Rocks and Fossils have been sent to the Adelaide Museum, in exchange for most liberal gifts from that Institution. Collections of Tertiary Possils have also been sent to the Melbourne Museum, and to the Christchurch Museum, in Canterbury. Tho specimens received at the Museum are enumerated in the appended list of donations and deposits, which is in continuation of that published last year. A most interesting addition to the Museum has been effected by the erection of the carved Maori house, which was originally built at Turangaruri, Poverty Bay. This wonderful specimen of Native Art has been restored in such a manner, that while it is carefully preserved from decay by an exterior covering of wood and iron, its interior presents as much as possible the original character which its designers intended. The only marked innovation has been the elevation of tho carved walls on a plinth 1\ feet above the original level, so that the eye of the visitor, when standing up, may be at the same elevation as if he were sitting on the floor of the house in its original state, according to usual Native custom. The total interior length of this house is 43 feet 8 inches, and width 18 feet. The original height of the walls was 4 feet 6 inches, and the apex of the roof 12 feet above the floor, but now 7 feet and 14 feet 6 inches respectively. The side walls contain thirty-two figures, elaborately carved in solid Totara wood (Podocarpus totara), 4 feet 6 inches high, 2 feet wide, and 6 inches in thickness ; the end walls of twenty pieces of carving of a different character and size, according to their position, the central carvings, 12 feet in height, supporting the ridge pole at each end, being the most elaborate in the building. The ridge pole is a huge triangular beam of wood, in two pieces, with one end projecting 6 feet beyond the building, and over what originally formed the porch. Besides the supports at each end, two posts support this beam in the middle of the house, and from each side-panel, a plank with a carving at its lower end reaches to the ridge. The interspaces were originally filled with the Kakaho or toetoe grass (Arundo conspicua), and this has been supplied by an imitation in wood of the fluted surface, as being more durable and cheaper of construction than the original material. The position and form of the original window and door has been preserved, and is the only source of light during the day. Tho entrance to the building from the Museum has been effected by swinging one of the panels in the side on hinges. An account of the history of this remarkable building, and the signification of the various grotesque carvings with which it is lined, will, it is hoped, be soon available. The contents of the Museum are now arranged in the following system, upon which a Descriptive Catalogue is being prepared :— I. CLASS A—TYPE COLLECTIONS. Cases. Of Minerals ... ... ... ... .. 12 3 Of Rocks ... ... ... ... 4 Of Possils ... ... ... ... 5 6 Of Recent Mollusca ... ... ... .78 9 10 2

INCLUDING A LIST OE DONATIONS AND DEPOSITS DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND OE THE ANALYTICAL PROCESSES REPORTED ON, 1887-68.

D.—No. 14L

MUSEUM AND LABORATORY REPORT, 1868: