H.-22

14

Staff.

The only changes m (lie personnel of the staff since the last annual report consist in the retireitieiii of Mrs. W. Tiirton, who was clerk iii charge of the National Historical Collection and the War Portrait Collection; Mrs. K. l-f, Phillips took over this work, and Miss Quested was appointed assistant typist. Miss Castle was absent for three months on sick-leave, and her place was taken by Miss Hudson. As in previous years, Mr. Best has devoted his whole time to ethnological research on the Maori. Mr. Hamilton and Miss Castle have been engaged almost wholly on the insect collections; Mr, Phillipps on fishes, whales, and seals; and Miss Mestayer on the inollusea. Mr. McDonald has superintended the exhibition galleries, the photographic work, and the library work. Reports by these- officers are appended. Since the last annual report the following papers written by myself have been published : ' The Geology of the Middle Clarence and Ure Valleys, East Marlborough " (in the " Transactions of lhe Mew Zealand Institute "); " Polymorphism in the Common New Zealand Limpet," " Geological and Palißontologieal Notes on Ihe Palliser Bay District." "Range of Tertiary Mollusca in the Oamaruian of North Otagp and Souili Canterbury," "A Quantitative Study of the Silicasal urat ion of Igneous Rocks," and " Proposals for a Dominion Scheme of Libraries of Science and Technology " (in the New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology); " Brachiopod Nomenclature—Hpirifer and Si/ri/tt/oftii/ris," and "Brachiopod Nomenclature — Glavigera, Hectoria, Rantell xjerti, and I'atoidea " (in the Geological Magazine), Mr. ,1. MoDonaijD, Assistant Director, reports as follows on the work falling under his care : — Another year has passed, and the activities of the period have been spread over a varied and interesting Held. The existing ethnographic collections have had the attention necessary for their care and preservation. With the constant and natural increase and now very restricted accommodation the disposition and proper exhibition of specimens becomes a pressing problem — one, in fact, that cannot properly be solved until such time as a new building and improved display cases may be provided. The need of greater space, more suitable exhibition eases, and better lighting; has become acute and is now an imperative necessity. The removal to Trenthani Military Camp of the Turkish pontoon, field and machine guns, trench mortars, and army equipment received from America, and Japan has provided space for an exhibition of the war memorial designs and photographs of monuments, statuary, and tablets collected in England by Mr. S. Hurst Seager, K.U.I .B.A. This exhibition has attracted considerable attention and brought an increased number of visitors to the Museum. To meet library requirements and give space for handling books and publications more expeditiously, as well as provide storage for the Board of Science and Art publications, shelving lias been erected in a portion of the photographic sludio. The extra space thus given has made provision for all the volumes in the Art Section, and the space formerly occupied by these is now being used for incoming publications and new exchanges, of which there has been a marked increase since the Journal of Science and Technology has been issued. During the year I modelled several Maori decorative patterns in relief, which have since been placed in position on the ceiling and cornice of the Native Committee-room in the new Parliament Buildings; and while at Ihe .Bay of Islands during annual leave 1 made a number of sketches for a large mural painting intended for this room. As Assistant Kilni Censor I have examined 2!).' i pictures totalling 1>05.050 ft. in length, Cuts ranging from 3ft. to 500 ft. were made in twenty-three, and three were rejected as unsuitable for public exhibition. War Portrait Collection. Since the previous period 020 photographs have been received of men of all ranks who have gained distinctions for valour in tin: war. These are now being prepared for framing, and will shortly be available for exhibition. Natuhal-histor? Collection, Terre.it rial Vertebral a. Mr. H. Hamilton reports on the land mammals, birds, and lizards as follows : — Since my return to the; Museum duties after a period of war service there have been few acquisitions or changes in Ihe condition of the zoological collections. The skin of a hue leopard was obtained through Ihe courtesy of the Superintendent of the Zoo at Newtown. Unfortunately this skin will have to remain unmounted until the services of a qualiliod taxidermist can be secured. Likewise many other animals are at times offered to the Museum hut have to be regretfully declined on account of not having Ihe necessary accommodation and facilities for preservation. As pointed out in previous reports, there is still (he necessity of replenishing (he Museum collection of native birds. In a few years the cost and difficulty of this necessary undertaking will be sensibly increased. Of course the question of accommodation and maintenance again arises should the matter be considered of importance. Next to a collection of the actual birds, a series of photographs taken under natural conditions would to some extent compensate for the lack of direct action. The necessary reflex camera and lelophoto lens has been authorized, and I anticipate building up a record collection of New Zealand native-bird photographs taken in their natural haunts. Two cabinets of mounted New Zealand birds have been acquired by purchase from local sources. Although many of the birds contained therein are not rare, il is considered that every effort should be made to'secure any g I specimens by purchase pending an active policy of fresh field-work.