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Reopening of Museum The ceremony of reopening the Museum was performed by His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, Y.C., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., on the evening of 29th September, 1949. Other addresses were given by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser ; His Worship the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. W. Appleton ; and the Chairman of the Management Committee, Mr. W. H. Price. These proceedings were followed by a ceremony of address to the Maori Meeting-house performed by the Hon. E. T. Tirikatene, M.P. Ethnological Section The registration and checking of the Oldman Collection was completed at the end of the year. At the request of the Government the Art Galleries and Museums Association of New Zealand appointed a committee to arrange for the distribution of material to the other main museums. Mr. W. J. Phillipps represented the Dominion Museum and the Director was appointed Chairman. Several small collections of Maori antiquities were purchased and some presented, including Waikato material from Mr. R. J. Corbett forwarded through the High Commissioner in London. Following field-work at the Wairau Bar, in which Mr. Phillipps and Mr. T. Barrow were associated with the Director of the Canterbury Museum, Mr. R. S. Duff, important collections of Moa-hunter material then excavated were presented by the Canterbury Museum. As more than half the year was occupied in the preparation of displays, reference collections received only routine attention, although it was possible to improve storage arrangements in a newly-excavated basement. After the reconditioning of our own Maori-carved exhibits the services of the carver, Mr. C. Tuarau, were made available to the Canterbury Museum for the assembly of the war canoe, Te HeJce Rangatira, which, with a large pataka, had been transferred on loan to that institution. Short papers were published, as follows : " A Maori God-stick in the Dominion Museum," by W. J. Phillipps. Journ. Polyn. Soc., Vol. 58, No. 3. " An Old Canoe-prow," by W. J. Phillipps, J. P. S., Vol. 58, No. 3. Historical and Technological Sections Following the policy of accepting and, where possible, exhibiting " by-gones " of value, the Museum has acquired, with the generous aid of the Wellington Harbour Board, a large mahogany bed and canopy formerly in a home of Sir George Grey. A landau in good order was presented by its owner, Mr. W. A. Read. Machines, tools, and instruments of early pattern also have been obtained by gift or at nominal cost, and the growth of these collections has caused the committee to discuss future policy. The Director has recommended that all important material should be accepted, while at the same time supporting the proposals being discussed in the Hutt Valley for the establishment of a technological museum. If this does not lead to early action the alternative must be an extension of exhibition space in the Dominion Museum or the bulk storage and deterioration of valuable machines and models. Mr. S. Northcote Bade has continued to give valued honorary assistance and advice in all matters relating to period furniture and china. Vertebrate Zoology Section Several stranded whales were examined and three fur-seal skins prepared. Polecats of the form found ferral in New Zealand have been kept for breeding experiment and observation. A valuable addition of foreign mammals was a gift; of mounted small mammals and game-animal heads from Africa by Mr. P. R. W. McKergow.

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