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circumstances considered. The Government having 

 granted a site for a new building, to replace the old 

 dilapidated and incommodious one at present occupied, 

 advantage of the circumstance might be taken to form 

 the nucleus of a Museum for the colony. The Society 

 which the institute represents is neither numerous nor 

 wealthy ; but it would doubtless lend its aid in this 

 matter for the information of the people. Towards this 

 end Government might help the Society by granting 

 a small sum annually upon well considered and ap- 

 proved conditions, say of giving accommodation in 

 the building for a small but increasing collection. 

 This collection might represent the flora of the colony ; 

 its land and sea fauna, mineralogy, geology, and in- 

 dustries ; and articles of curiosity, and of historical and 

 economical, commercial, or educational interest from 

 other countries. The co-operation of naturalists 

 visiting the colony should be desired, and they might 

 be requested to give the museum one specimen of 

 each species of the collection made in the group. The 

 settlers and natives in all parts of the colony might 

 contribute, and a fairly representative and interesting 

 collection might be easily and rapidly got up. The 

 habits of the natives are changing, surely, if not 

 rapidly, and articles of interest such as represent their 

 former condition, manners, customs, clothing, manu- 

 factures, &c.,are fast disappearing, and ere long there 

 will be more of these articles in Europe and Australia, 

 where, as curiosities, they are more valued than in 

 Fiji A Museum would retain a fair collection of 

 thi Lcles, which it would be desirable and inter- 



esting ; " preserve in the colony. 



The climate of Fiji is essentially tropical, yet very 

 health \. Malarial fevers and other diseases common 



