PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. — SECTION' D. 63 



the two countries closely associated with the early history of 

 the Dominion. 



South Africa has its European sources also, for Portugal, 

 Holland and Great Britain have each in turn contributed to the 

 history of this land, and Xew Zealand has in the Grey collection 

 papers of great value to us, for which happily w^e have an 

 equivalent to offer which that country is anxious to jsossess. 

 iVlready we know something of the records in the European 

 •countries which affect us, and such self-denying" work as that of 

 Dr. Theal has given us a considerable addition to our asset. 

 He doubtless has knowledge of wdiere our Archives Department 

 might add still more to its stores, and no time should be lost 

 in securing that information if available. State Papers in the 

 Colonial Series of the Record Office in London, \\'ar Office 

 records, papers under the care of the Master of Rolls, and 

 various Departments of State can be laid under contribution. 

 The British Museum, the Royal Institution, the old Trade and 

 Plantations ( )ffice, now known as the Board of Trade, are in 

 possession of valuable papers, and some of them would pro- 

 bably grant the same special facilities as have been granted 

 to Canada for papers to be copied, and if their actual work 

 cannot all be done at once some competent person might be 

 asked as a preparatory work to make out complete lists of 

 documents to be dealt with as means are provided. It is pos- 

 sible some arrangement might be made to receive help from 

 the Historical Manuscripts Commission, and though this does 

 not exhaust the oversea resources it is sufficient to indicate 

 what a large and attractive field is open for search. 



(d) To these 1 would add the more private sources, such as 

 old letters, diaries, descriptive writings, which might be ob- 

 tained were it known they would be appreciated, and were 

 adequate guarantees forthcoming, which would of course be 

 readily given, that where required they could remain under seal 

 only to be opened at a fixed date when no personal offence 

 could be given. With these might be associated family papers 

 of general interest, while in other cases biographers and other 

 writers have often in their possession, or are acquainted with, 

 large stores of material which they have been unable to use 

 or which they have passed over because it was not germane to 

 the special end which they had in view. Nor should it be for- 

 gotten that documents have come into the possession of pri- 

 vate families through relatives who have occupied official posi- 

 tions when there was no very sharp line of distinction drawn 

 between what was personal and State property. In some 

 instances the value of these is not understood, not even sus- 

 pected. One custodian perhaps values them, to the next they 

 are so much waste paper or rubbish, and as such reach the 

 ignominy of a " parade " sale, while diligent historians are 

 sighing their hearts out for the information they contain. 

 Well-considered enquiries might discover some of these, and 

 where necessary to purchase, the fact should not be lost sight 

 •of that a ^100 within the next ten vears mav be worth a 

 ;£, 1,000 a quarter of a century hence. 



