E.—7

52

The pictures have been hung in chronological order, starting with the map by Abel Tasmau (1643) and Captain Cook's map of New Zealand; then follow views of Sydney and Hobart. Each of the chief towns of New Zealand is illustrated by maps and plans, and views at various periods after its first settlement —Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin being wry fully illustrated. Various posters and advertisements connected with the New Zealand Company of 1840 are in their appropriate places on the walls, and portraits of the directors ere shown on the' screen hard by. On two long screens are pictures illustrative of Maori customs and of the Maori war. with plans of important pas, battles, eVc. On another screen is exhibited the Treaty of Waitangi, with the signatures of the chiefs; while elesewhere are hung various photographs, autographs of historical personages, and other documents of interest. The whole form* a most valuable' and interesting pictorial history of this Dominion. It has already been visited by large numbers of people. Mr. W. 11. Trimble has been appointed librarian by the Hocken Library Trustees, who have engaged to pay his salary for two years, for which period the engagement lasts. The University Council will be at liberty to make' its own arrangement after that period. The books are beingarranged, and a catalogue xvill be prepared and printed for distribution at the expense of the' trustees. I may add that the history of this important acquisition has already been fully given in my previous reports for 1906 and 1908. Dr. Hocken's generosity lias been emphasized b\ his bearing the cost of binding a considerable number of the books, including a large number of newspapers, as well as by the framing of the pictures, &c. He has now further laid the public tinder obligation by announcing that he intends to present his collection of Maori objects to the University. Universal regret must be felt at the unfortunate illness which prevents the donor seeing his gift in its new quarters. Museum Work. During the year 1 engaged, at my own expense, the services of a lad) to assist me in mounting and arranging a series of algse, stored in the herbarium in the loose' sheets of paper in which they were receix'ed from the specialist who named them many years ago. They have now been mounted on stiff paper in the usual manner, and classified. The mosses were also treated in the same manner. Early in the year I received a collection of zoological, and botanical, and geological specimens from the Kermadec Islands, collected by Mr. W. It. B. Oliver, who engineered an expedition for the purpose of studying the natural history of those outliers, and who presented these' specimens to the Museum. Many of the animals are new to the collection; many are new to science. They xvill lie described by me in the course of time. The' foreign insects have been remounted. A small piece of cork lias been glued to the cardboard tablet for the reception of the pin, xvhich xvas never satisfactorily firmly inserted into the tablet. This plan was adopted in the case of the native insects a few years ago, and proves to be an excellent way of mounting them. The superintendence of the work going on in connection with the Hocken Wing and with the fitting-up of the nexv biological laboratory in the basement has absorbed much of my time during the summer, and has interfered greatly with my research xvork. The live tuatara continues to attract a very great deal of attention and interest, and suggests the idea of exhibiting living specimens more constantly than has been the custom hitherto. But till J have more assistance it is impossible for the staff to attend properly to them. Additional Exhibits. The most striking addition is a group of seals (Arctocephalus hookeri), which the taxidermist (Mr. Jennings) skilfully arranged to represent them lying on a beach, utilizing the old stuffed male-, female', and young one previously mounted separately. These have been placed on stones of different sizes; and, though the effect would have been better had we been able to secure fresh specimens, yet it is a good example of xvhat can be done in this line of mounting. A series of weapons, &c, which it is believed formed part of the collection made during Cook's voyages, was presented by Dr. H. Lindo Ferguson last year. These have now found a place in a case in the old Art Gallery, which I am utilizing as an ethnological room. A fine emperor penguin, presented by Sir E. Shackletou, has been placed in the upper gallery; and a number of rock specimens from the mountains of the Antarctic Continent, presented by the British Antarctic Expedition, have also been added to the Antarctic specimens received a fexv years ago from the Newnes expedition. Amongst other exhibits may be mentioned a native blue heron, plaster cast of four species of whales on a scale of 1 in. to the foot, a cast of a fine skate (Raia nasuta), nest of the mason wasp (Pison pruinosus), showing the spiders stored for the nutrition of the grubs, and the pupal case; a model of the great Cullinan diamond, and several new invertebrates (native and foreign). Work of the Taxidermist. Mr. Jennings, besides spending much time and labour in setting up the group of seals, made a plaster cast of a large skate, measuring 6 ft. by 4 ft. 6 in., caught at Evansdale. As this xvas a new line of work to him, he deserves much credit for the excellent result of his care and patience. The cast has been painted as nearly life colour as xvas possible. AA T hen mounted it weighed about li cwt., and in hanging it on the wall xve were glad of the assistance of the men at work on the Hocken AVing at the time. The usual work of remounting alcoholic specimens, many being transferred to better jars, has occupied the time of the taxidermist, who, it should be remembered, has ;i good deal of work to carry out for me in connection with the biological classes. All the cases have been overhauled and cleaned, and the general care of the exhibits has been faithfully performed by him.