348 Proceedings. 



Dr. C. J. Wood, Bishop of Melanesia, has presented a remarkably good outrigger 

 canoe, 29 ft. in length, from the Island of Tikopia, in the eastern part of the Solomon 

 Group. Dr. Wood had previously contributed two tine canoes of different types to the 

 Museum, and his present gift is valuable as a help towards forming a comparative 

 scries. 



In the natural-history department, although a considerable number of small additions 

 have been received, no collections of any size have been added, apart from those 

 obtained by the staff of the Museum. It is quite evident that in the future, so far as 

 many classes of specimens are concerned, the .Museum must rely on the activities of 

 its own officers, or on trained collectors engaged by it. 



Library. — The undoubted risk of loss through submarines, and the greatly increased 

 charges for freight, insurance, &c, have compelled the Council to suspend the purchase 

 of books for the present. It has been decided, however, to keep up the subscriptions 

 to all 2iiagazincs and serial publications at present on the society's list. 



The Council has pleasure in acknowledging the donation by Mr. K. Logan of a 

 copy of Rothschild's costly and magnificent work on "' Extinct Birds." 



Development of flu Museum and the Need for a New Site. — The summary just given 

 of the work performed by the Institute during the year affords many evidences of 

 progress and many proofs of the increasing Interest taken by the citizens in both the 

 Museum. and library. But regularly increasing donations and additions, however gratify- 

 ing they may be as proofs of public confidence and support, arc every year increasing 

 the difficulty is housing the collections and exhibiting them to the public. They 

 accentuate the one main fact hindering the development of the .Museum and the efforts 

 of its guardians to place it on a higher level — want of room. And this want is not 

 confined to one branch of the Museum, but exists in every department. In addition, 

 it effectually prevents any expansion of the present aims of the institution. There are 

 many activities usually associated with a well-ordered and progressive Museum that 

 are excluded from the Auckland Museum through want of room. 



Much consideration has been given to the matter by the Council, and several 

 meetings have been held. It soon became obvious that the question for decision was 

 simply this: Can sufficient accommodation, with (\ue regard to future needs, be obtained 

 on the present site : and, if not, what site is best adapted for the purpose ? Investiga- 

 tion soon proved that the unbuilt-upon portion of the existing site, with its almost 

 precipitous slope, was likely to j^rove both inconvenient and expensive, while it was 

 not large enough for present requirements, to say nothing of future needs. 



Having arrived at the conclusion that the removal of the Museum from its present 

 position was inevitable, it became necessary for the Council to search for a new locality. 

 In doing this, it was recognized that the new Museum should occupy a central position, 

 and should possess the fundamental advantages of room for future expansion, decreased 

 risk of fire, and freedom from dust and smoke. Further, it was admitted that, as no 

 public Museum in Australia or New Zealand has had to provide its own site, there was 

 no reason why the Auckland Museum should be treated in a different manner. 



After an examination of those sites — by no means numerous — that complied with 

 the conditions mentioned above, a meeting of the Council .was held to decide which 

 was the most suitable. After full discussion, and after the reasons in favour of changing 

 the site had again been reviewed, the following resolution was moved by the Hon. E. 

 Mitchelson, seconded by Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., and unanimously adopted: "That this 

 Council is of opinion that the most suitable site upon which to erect a permanent Museum 

 is that part of the Auckland Domain known as Observatory Hill : and that the Auck- 

 land City Council be requested to assent to this proposition, with the view of asking 

 Parliament for authority and power to carry out the project." 



This expression of the views of the Institute was placed before the City Council 

 at a meeting held on the 7th February. It was supported by the Mayor and Deputy 

 Mayor, who respectively proposed and seconded the following resolution, which was 

 unanimously adopted: ■"That the request of the Council of the Auckland Institute 

 and Museum for the permission of the Auckland City Council -to place a Museum building 

 upon Observatory Hill, in the Auckland Domain, be granted, subject to the Council 

 of the Institute promoting the necessary validating legislation. Further, the Council 

 of the Institute to make provision for the City Council being represented on their body 

 as follows: Mayor of Auckland ex officio member of the Council of the Institute, and 

 two others to be nominated by the Auckland City Council." It is a satisfaction to 

 the Council of the Institute to receive such a sympathetic assurance of co-operation 

 from the City Council, and it is hoped that such friendly relations may long exist. 



The Council of the Institute has apjjroved of the terms prescribed by the City 

 Council, and is taking steps to promote the necessary legislation as soon as practicable 

 in order to enable the proposed new building to be erected within the Auckland Domain. 



