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Our Museum is too small to have any educational value worth 

 naming, and in its present state it teaches too little by attempting too 

 much, and I think it would be far better to exhibit fewer specimens 

 which should fully tell their own tale, than to heap so many together 

 without labels; and because its present resources are so limited, the 

 greatest amount of good will probably be effected by confining attention 

 to the formation of a provincial collection. 



The lack of patriotism among those who regulate the affairs of the 

 Museum has been most deplorably shown in some instances that have 

 come to my knowledge — it pains one to recall them. Nevertheless, may 

 I ask why two diamonds, unique as crystals, and which were found within 

 the colony, do not form part of the National Museum collection? 

 Will another, subsequently found and purchased by our Govern- 

 ment, find a home with us ? Again, why has not that choice 

 collection of our native beetles formed by the late Mr. Odewahn 

 been secured for the country ? For, be it known that the Museum 

 does not possess a specimen of the diamond, and that all it has 

 representative of the large coleopterous fauna of South Australia is a 

 small case of dilapidated beetles. If the Museum were the property of 

 this Society, or other body not having adequate means for efficient main- 

 tenance, a reasonable answer would be expected not only to such specific 

 questions, but to others that I have already touched upon. 



Is the Museum fulfilling its proper functions ? I need not press for 

 an answer, as I know that it is the universal opinion that it does not. The 

 chief causes for this may be summarised under the heads of space, worh- 

 ing expenses, and management. 



The present Museum accommodation is lamentably deficient, and yet 

 a great mistake is about to be made with that to be contained in the new 

 Institute building, as the space will be only large enough to hold the 

 already exhibited specimens, no provision being made for the display of 

 objects stored away, and of those not already collected. It moreover 

 presents the sad fault of an upper gallery. It would also be well to 

 profit by the example of the United States, who fully recognise the fact 

 that the expense of a grand building starves the museum within. 



A well-arranged Museum is of necessity costly ; money measures the 

 power of procuring glass-cases and suitable specimens, but as the funds 

 necessary for efficiency should be provided out of the public purse, since 

 it is for the public weal, it is to be hoped that they will be on a scale 

 commensurate with the largeness of the object to be achieved, provided 

 that it is not narrowed down by curtailment of accommodation. 



