1897 J THE PROVINCIAL MUSEUM 381) 



sentence from Natural Science) of the means of "co-ordination, in- 

 vestigation, and effective utilisation of all our obscured scientific and 

 artistic material," together with the creation of means by which those 

 aspiring to take up curatorial work may receive a thorough training. 

 A somewhat rough-and-ready classification of provincial museums 

 seems to indicate naturally a string of suggestions which might 

 possibly be elaborated into a workable and effective scheme. At 

 present provincial museums may, we think, be placed in three or 

 four classes as follows : — 



T. Museums of University Colleges, and of large cities possess- 

 ing large collections and a trained staff. 

 IT. Museums of important manufacturing centres, or county 

 towns, with usually fair collections and a self-educated 

 staff. 



III. Museums of small towns, and of scientific societies which 



are managed by honorary curators, or once arranged and 

 afterwards left unaltered in the hands of a care-taker. 



IV. Museums under the Libraries and Museums Act which are 



managed by the librarian in addition to his own work, 

 outside help being obtained from time to time. Some of 

 these museums rank in importance with those of Class II. 



That a relative importance of provincial museums exists such as 

 that implied in this classification will, we think, be admitted, and 

 upon this assumption the following suggestions are formulated as a 

 means of bringing about that co-ordination and improvement of 

 museum development which is so much desired. 



Suggested Plan 



I. Creation of an annual museums' grant by Government in aid 

 of provincial museums of the first class, the sum allotted to each 

 being determined by considerations similar to those which guide the 

 application of the present University Colleges' Grant. 



Upon the strength of such a grant the Government could charge 

 each museum with a definite scope of work and the attainment and 

 retention of a certain standard of excellence. 



For example, a museum might be called upon as a condition of 

 receiving the grant to have special aims such as the following : — 



(a) The specific task of investigating and demonstrating by col- 



lections the natural history, &c, of a defined geographical 

 area of which the museum would be the centre. 



(b) The formation and continued progress of a good general 



collection suited to the needs of the area served by the 

 museum. 



