H.-22

16

Staff.

No alterations have been made in the number or personnel of the staff during the year. As in previous years, Mr. Elsdon Best has devoted his whole time to ethnological research on the Maori, and Miss A. Castle has been wholly occupied with the care of the insect collections. The remaining work, including the registration and determination of new specimens, the overhaul of the existing collections, and the registration of accessions to the library, has been shared between myself, Mr. H. Hamilton, and Mr. J. McDonald, Mr, Hamilton being responsible for the majority of the zoological specimens, and Mr. McDonald for the historical and ethnographical specimens. During the year I continued my work on the classification and description of the Tertiary Brachiopoda., and also commenced the formation of a genotype collection of Brachiopods in general. With a view to the future expansion of the library, [ commenced also the formation of a card index of literature relating to the South Seas, and another of the prices at which sets of scientific journals are advertised. During the year the following papers were published in scientific journals: " Brachiopod Genera: The Position of Shells with Magaseliform Loops, and of Shells with Bouchardiform Beak Characters"; "Additions to the Knowledge of the Recent Brachiopoda of Now Zealand"; "The Genera of Recent and Tertiary Rhynconellids "; "A New Genus and Species of the Thecidiince (Brachiopoda)." Officers' Reports. Mr. J. McDonald reports as follows : — Library. —The library of the New Zealand Institute, which has been offered to the Board of Science and Art, and at present used almost exclusively by the Museum staff, has been entirely rearranged under the direction of Dr. Thomson, and is in consequence now a valuable adjunct to the Museum. A skeleton card index for registering accessions was prepared by Dr. Thomson, and has since been kept up to date, both for the Museum library proper and for the library of the New Zealand Institute. At no distant date provision will have to be made for additional shelving. Notwithstanding the space gained by removing little-used books to the Sydney Street store, there is little available space for the publications which arrive by every mail and through the International Exchange Service. The desirability of having a bindery attached to the library is a matter worthy of consideration. Volumes now ready in the joint libraries would occupy a binder for a series of years. Exhibits. —The Maori carvings and other examples of the arts and crafts of our Native race have been carefully examined, cleaned, and oiled, and in many cases repainted. A number of old-time and rare specimens of the art of the Kai-whakairo, which were in danger of decay, were removed from their mountings, reinforced with glue, and remounted. Others now having attention are being backed with molten paraffin wax before remounting. Many of the carved slabs which were found to be riddled by the wood-boring beetle were subjected to prolonged soaking in a solution of lime, soda carbonate, and arsenic. A large wooden Cook Island vessel with a capacity of 600 gallons was used, and answered the purpose admirably. Whether the treatment will be effective in badly bored pieces remains to be seen. Attention has also been given to the collections in the Sydney Street storeroom, particularly to the specimens presented by Lord St. Oswald, the trustees of the late Sir Walter Buller, and Mr. A. H. Turnbull. The cases containing the korowai, kiwi-feather garments, &c, were all carefully examined, and it was satisfactory to find that no traces of moth or other insect were to be seen. The large geological model of New Zealand, constructed by r Sir James Hector, has been given a much needed cleaning and repainting. No alterations were made in the geological formations as laid down by Sir James Hector, but as the chief interest of the model for the general public lies in the topography, the additional railway-lines constructed since the model was made were painted on. Photographic Work. —About a thousand full-plate negatives of Maori carvings and other Maori subjects, and also a number of plates of Fijian fire-walking ceremonies, &c, have been classified for indexing. During the year a number of negatives of Brachiopods and Molluscs, including some microphotographs, were prepared for Dr. Thomson. While the Maori carvings were under treatment opportunity was taken to photograph such as were likely to be required in the near future by Mr. Best. My work on the illustrations for the Museum Bulletins has been intermittent. A number of photographs and drawings have been completed for No. 6, but there is still much to do for this bulletin, and as soon as it is completed the illustrations for No. 7, the manuscript of which is ready, will have to be taken in hand. Mr. Elsdon Best reports as follows on his ethnological work :— In regard to the series of bulletins on Maori technology, No. 5, " Maori Storehouses and Kindred Structures " is still in the printers' hands, the long delay in its issue being due to the difficulty of obtaining a suitable and permanent paper. No. 6, on Maori fortifications, awaits illustrations before being sent forward to printers. During the year No. 7, a monograph on Maori canoes and their manipulation, has been compiled, and awaits illustration. Owing to the acquisition of a considerable amount, of new matter this latter bulletin has reached 400 pages of manuscript, the subject being one that has not previously been written up in full detail for any Pacific race. Considering that the Polynesians appeal' to have been the most daring and successful of all peoples in the art of navigation until a late period of history, it, is desirable that all information concerning their vessels and ocean voyages should be placed on record. In