MR E. H. Gibson, of the Otago Museum, is at present taking a cast of a very fine specimen of tunny fish, caught a few days ago off the Otago Heads by a party of yachtsmen and presented to the Museum by Mr William Taylor, of Kensington.
The fish measures between 4ft and 5ft in length, and weighs close on 2cwt. The model, which is being reproduced in plaster-of-paris, will be placed on view at the Museum in the course of a week or two. Quite recently, too, the institution has benefited by the presentation of several specimens from private persons.
Interest in the Maori relic department has been increased by the addition of a handsome Maori dress in kiwi feathers and a hei tiki (or talisman), the gifts of Mrs Hocken.
An ancient Maori weapon or patu has also been presented by Mr James Baird, on whose farm at Kokonga, Central Otago, it was unearthed during the process of ploughing. The probable age of the weapon is between 300 and 400 years, and its weight is slightly over 10lb. The colour resembles slate, and the surface is very much indented. The specimen is in a splendid state of preservation.
A very fine sample of Goodletite, or rubies in the matrix, discovered on the West Coast by Mr William Goodlet, has also been presented to the Museum by the finder - a former specimen having been removed.
Other recent acquisitions are a sample of garnet sand found on the beach at Stewart Island and presented by Mr Edwin Wiggins, and a fossil (Venus sulcata) discovered on the West Coast by Miss Ada Michaelis.
A walk round the Museum, besides revealing much of interest, shows that the specimens receive careful attention, the whole being remarkably clean and free from dust.
A rearrangement in the disposition of several of the cases has recently been effected, with the result that a number of the specimens are shown to better advantage than formerly. The new glass case in which the moa relics are displayed is a decided adornment to the interior of the building.
• WELLINGTON: Speaking at the opening of the new post office at Porirua to-day the Hon. H. G. Ell (Postmaster-general) gave some interesting information with regard to the development of the telephone services throughout the Dominion.
He traced the history of the services from 1881, when telephones first began to be utilised, and instanced the excellent results that had attended "The Electric Telegraph Act Amending Act, 1880," giving authority to construct, establish, and maintain electric communication by telephones.
The first exchange was opened at Christchurch in 1881, with 29 subscribers. Auckland and Wellington followed, and then Dunedin.
The success of these exchanges was rapidly assured, and various reductions in rates took place, from 12 per annum in 1883 to 5 per annum in 1891, and for "party lines" (inaugurated in 1912), 3 10s per year for two subscribers on a line not exceeding a mile in length.
"The growth in the number of telephone subscribers has been very great," said the Minister. "For the year ended March 31, 1882, the number was 116 and for 1883 the number was 379.
"Since then the number has steadily increased, and at the end of 1911 had reached a total of 28,093 subscribers. As to the future, I cannot overlook the fact that the tendency of the age is towards rapidity of communication. The telephone, which was a luxury only a few years ago, is now regarded as more or less of a necessity. My policy will be first to consider the needs of the back-block settlers, and to rush on telephone lines as rapidly as funds permit." - ODT, 25.4.1912.
COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM STAR STATIONERY SHOP, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
