Haast.—On the Early History of the Canterbury Museum. 509 
from Mr. T. Hacket, a series of bird-skins from the Northern Island from 
Mr. W. L. Buller, and a collection of fossils from Mr. J. D. Enys. About 
the same time a large collection of botanical specimens, consisting of fibres, 
barks, fruits, cones, seeds and timber arrived. They were sent by Dr. (now 
Sir) Jos. D. Hooker, the Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew. Dr. J. 
Hector, the Director of the Colonial Museum in Wellington, presented also 
@ number of valuable specimens, amongst them the first pair of huias 
(Heteralocha gouldi). 
Hitherto, the principal material for exchanges upon which we could rely 
| were New Zealand bird-skins; however, in the beginning of December 
1 (1866) a new era for the cans began, and to which, after that time, its 
rapid growth has principally to be attributed. At the invitation of Mr. G. 
H. Moore, then the New Zealand partner of Messrs, Kermode and Co., I pro- 
ceeded to their fine property, Glenmark, where, during the drainage of some 
swampy ground, large quantities of moa bones had been discovered, That 
gentleman, on my arrival, not only presented most generously the large and 
i unique collection on hand to the Museum, but, in order that I might judge 
| for myself of the mode of occurrence, he placed several workmen at my dis- 
posal, with-whom, for a number of days, | made some very successful exea- 
vations, the results of which surpassed my highest expectations, The 
| generous gift of Mr. Moore, and the bones excavated under my direetion, 
| filled a large American four-horse waggon. From this material the first 
Seven moa skeletons in the Museum were articulated. About the same time 
a large collection of skins of North American mammals arrived from Pro- 
fessor L. Agassiz, so that we now had also some representative ppecimens 
from the American Continent. 
| The collections at the end of 1866 had become so extensive, that it was 
| Utterly impossible to find space for them in the rooms occupied by me as 
Offices. The Provincial Government, therefore, at my earnest request, put 
at my disposal the small cottage on the eastern side of Kilmore Street, close 
to the Government Buildings, afterwards occupied by the Emigration and 
Charitable Aid offices. Here in one room I had my office, the rest of the 
eS building being used as a storeroom. I succeeded, also, in having the fine 
= *80m above Bellamy’s—the so-called coffee-room, afterwards used as the 
Q ndent’s oe a eee It was here that 
show wnt sing th een, was made the work-room of 
