Haast.—On the Early History of the Canterbury Museum. 511i 
Thus one great object, the opening of the collections for inspection, was 
gained, and the eager interest the public took in the Museum, although a 
guide was almost necessary to lead the visitors from one part to the other, 
gave us new encouragement to proceed with our endeavours to have a 
separate building erected, worthy of the position Canterbury gradually 
assumed amongst the provinces of New Zealand. 
During the first four months of the year 1868 I was again in the field, 
of which six weeks were devoted to the southern portion of Westland, 
whence I returned with considerable collections, both geological and zoo- 
logical. 
Another journey to Glenmark was made in the end of April, 1868, and 
large quantities of moa bones exhumed, of which a number formed a 
welcome addition to our own collections, the rest proving of great value for 
further exchanges. About this time we received a fine collection of recent 
molluscs, mostly from the tropics, an articulated human skeleton, and a 
number of bird-skins, principally African, from the Vienna Zoological 
useum, as well as an extensive series of European pre-historic remains, 
i from the late John W. Flower, of Croydon, Surrey, to whom we had sent 
+ some Dinornithic remains previously. It was this fine collection by which 
: our pre-historic series was fairly begun. I cannot help noticing here that four 
of our first correspondents or friends with whom I initiated exchanges, have 
: already departed from this earth, although only a comparatively short period 
of time has elapsed. Whilst Agassiz, as a great naturalist, stood in an 
1 exceptionally prominent position amongst his fellow-labourers, Frauenfeld, 
eee 
: it, and Flower were all three remarkable and distinguished men in their : 
: own sphere of research. : 
On 30th June, 1868, my contract as Provincial Geologist having termi- 
nated, I handed the whole collections over to the Provincial Govérnment. 
: Mr. R. L. Holmes, who since 1862 had first been my companion on several 
| of my journeys, and afterwards had acted as Meteorological Observer to the 
| __ Province, and as Clerk to the Geological Survey, left also on the same day. 
i departure was much regretted by me, as this gentleman, possessing 
great zeal and energy, had been of considerable assistance to me in arranging 
the collections, and although now settled a number of years in the Fijis as 
‘§ planter, he still continues to take a lively interest in the welfare of the 
uy ‘Maseum, and sends, ete opportunities offer, valuable contributions from 
‘being anxious that the collection, slid End bed oy 
» should be cared for, I « offered. my gratuitous services as oe 
| eeedtag mentees the pore mies the Museum, a e 
