was caught by three fishermen in Gage Roads on Thursday last. Mr. Woodward
states that, on learning of the capture, the taxidermist at the Museum
proceeded to Fremantle, and at once declared the monster to be a sword
fish. The statement that the authorities at the Museum refused to purchase
the fish for £3 was, he said, incorrect. Arrangements were made with the
fishermen that they should send their capture to the Museum for £3 12s.,
but, evidently, the men found that they could make more money by
exhibiting it. Decomposition having commenced, it became too late to
preserve the specimen, while the fin, which was one of the most
distinctive features, had been so damaged that it could not have been set
up as a skeleton. Mr. Woodward pointed out that the term “crustacean” was
applied to creatures of the crab, lobster, or scorpion species.

“The sword-fish,” said Mr. Woodward, “are oceanic fish, occurring in all
the tropical and sub-tropical seas. They are always on the look-out for
prey, and are endowed with extreme strength and velocity, and so are
rarely captured. The species found in the Indian and Pacific oceans belong
to the “genus histiophorus,” and are distinguished from the common
Mediterranean sword-fish, by having ventral fins. They attain a length of
from 12ft. to 15ft. ; consequently the one captured at Fremantle being
16ft., must be an exceptionally large specimen. Swords have bean obtained
more than 3ft., long, with a diameter of 3in. at the base. The sword is
formed by the prolongation of the maxilliary [sic] (jaw) bones. It is
rough on its lower surface, owing to the development of rudimentary teeth.
It is very hard and strong, and forms a most formidable weapon. The fish
never hesitates in attacking whales and other cetaceons, [sic] and their
mode of action is to repeatedly stab these animals until they become
helpless, and then feed upon them. Swordfish not unfrequently [sic] attack
boats, and even ships, evidently mistaking them for whales. Sometimes they
succeed in piercing the bottom of a ship, endangering its safety, but as
they are seldom able to execute a sufficiently powerful backward movement
to extract their sword from the timbers, it gets broken off and remains as
a plug. A piece of 2in. plank of a whaleboat thus pierced by a swordfish
may be seen in the British Museum. The swordfish is often confused with
the Narwhal—a mammal, and not a fish. It has the long horn like ivory, a
spiral tusk which grows to the length of 7ft. or 8ft. This is sometimes
called the sea unicorn, and the fable of the unicorn is believed to have
been derived from some tusks of these that were found before the animal
was known. The narwhal belongs to the same family as the dolphins.”

Mr. Woodward shares the opinion that the swordfish taken at Fremantle must
have been fighting, and, consequently, it had been very siriously [sic]
injured ; otherwise the fishermen would never have been able to capture it.

Doubtless the surroundings were somewhat sad and sombre, and, even had they been brighter and more exhilarating to the unscientific, there is not, much that is interesting in a collection of mineral and specimens.

We know that a very enthralling discourse has been delivered with regard to a lump of red sand-stone, nevertheless geology is essentially a subject on which it is impossible for the unscientific to work up any degree of enthusiasm. Nevertheless it has been obvious to everybody in the old Prison Chapel last Wednesday afternoon who listened to the remarks of the Governor and Premier that the formal establishment and opening of this museum is a matter of no small importance.

As the Governor pointed out, Western Australia is already a gold-producing country and a place of great mineral possibilities. The specimens on view at the museum now open to the public include rich, gold-bearing quartz from Kimberley in the north to Plantagenet in the south, besides lead, copper, tin and coal and other valuable minerals too numerous to mention. These will demonstrate, to those anxious to enquire into our wealth and prospects that Western Australia offers a large field for mineral research.

The placing of the museum the charge of a paid curator will be a great advantage, although the Rev. Mr. Nicolay deserves great credit for his valuable and gratuitous attention to the geological collection, in the past. It will be the duty of the curator to add to that collection and to do all that lies in his power for its enlargement, and we believe that Mr. Woodward is well fitted in all respects for the position he, occupies. The present day is one of small things, but there is no foretelling the extent to which the humble little museum will grow, and maybe it is the nucleus of a school of mines, and of an institution which will bear comparison with those so well established and housed in the sister provinces.

It must at once be affirmed that the sooner the museum is removed from its present temporary lodgings the better. It is somewhat remotely situated in the first instance, and in the next the prison surroundings are gloomy to a degree, and must cause an impression the reverse of favourable in the minds of visitors, and indeed induce uncomfortable comment. Gloomy as is the exterior the interior is worse, and the visitor has to pass whitewashed cells and mount iron stairs in order to reach the sombre apartment in which the specimens and exhibits are located. This lodgment should not be allowed any longer than can be possibly helped, and it may be hoped that when next the Government come before parliament they will be prepared with proposals for the erection of a museum in a central or conveniently situated portion of the city.

This museum should be devoted not merely to the housing of geological specimens, but should be for exhibits of a general character. No doubt it would be possible, by offering a reasonable sum of money in payment therefore, to obtain the highly heterogeneous collection at present jumbled together in the Mechanics' Institute, and which are palpably suffering from the effects of the dust and moth which corrupt. Well arranged and displayed the collection would be very interesting but at present it is almost an impossibility to view them properly.

It is little short of discreditable to the colony that after an existence of 60 years there is not in Perth even the nucleus of a collection of our flora and fauna. Few countries offer such opportunities to the botanist, the entomologist and zoologist as Western Australia, and without going outside our borders for exhibits a truly magnificent and unique collection of natural objects might be made and displayed in this fair city.

As it is at present we have nothing whatever of the kind to show the stranger within our gates. It is high time this reproach was removed. The Premier, Sir John Forrest, though he would scarcely pose as a scientific man, has displayed a large amount of highly intelligent interest in the collection of botanical and other specimens when engaged in his exploring expeditions, and judging by his remarks at the opening of the Geological Museum he recognizes that the colony is unduly backward, and has not done justice to itself in failing to establish ere [sic] this a [sic] Museum in Perth.

It may therefore be hoped that his Government will be the first [missing original text] … was thickly strewn with [missing original text] … and so densely covered with heavy grasses to completely [missing original text] … both sides of the soil and stones from [missing original text] … making it very difficult for horse or man to set his foot evenly on the ground, and much stumbling and many loosened horseshoes. The river contained a fine volume of fresh water, running in a broad shallow bed, with a firm bottom of sand and basalt boulders. Papyrus trees and groups of palms occupied little mounds of soil that just showed above the water, giving the whole scene a very picturesque appearance.

A CURIOUS SPOT AND A VAST PANORAMA.

The camp having been pitched early in the afternoon, Mr. Allen and I took fresh horses and rode several miles to the south-west. We saw a large pool of water at the bottom of a beautiful valley, contiguous to which was a large and nearly horizontal slab of sandstone rock, probably 900 square yards in extent. In the centre of this the aborigines had formed a circle of large stones, 12ft. in diameter. At the centre of this circle was an oblong stone structure. about 5 ft. long and 3ft. wide, and nearly 2ft. high, which, from the burnt appearance of the stones and quantity of ashes and cinders in the vicinity, was evidently used from time to time as an oven, or perhaps an altar. Passing this curious spot, we rode for about a
mile further up a very steep incline, and finding the rise of the country becoming too precipitous for horse-travelling, we secured our nags under a group of box trees, and proceeded to ascend the mountain in front of us on foot. Half an hour's climbing brought us to the summit, where we were rewarded by a splendid view of the surrounding, country.

The aneroid showed this mount to be 1,550 ft. above sea-level. On every side of us huge boulders of black volcanic stone rose up through the deep, dense covering of succulent green grass which clothed the mountain from base to apex. Miles away from us in various directions we could trace out the courses of creeks and lagoons by the masses of papyrus and palm trees that fringed their banks ; while further still to the west and north the prospect was bounded by terraces of rugged mountains, furrowed by numerous gaps and valleys.

The principal timber on the mountain where we stood, and apparently on the surrounding hills, was a rather small species of eucalyptus, which, for want of another appellation, our party generally called the “grey box.” The “feather-tree” also appeared in considerable numbers, and many small species of acacia, and a stunted palm with fan- shaped leaves, which seemed to grow only on the higher altitudes. We were so interested in the varied beauties of the vast panorama spread around us that we did not for some time notice the sun was getting near to the horizon ; an observation from my companion to the effect that we had but little more than half an hour of daylight, made us hurriedly return to our horses and steer for the camp. It was considerably after dark when we sighted our own fires and felt ourselves within the safety of the camp, where we sat down with vigorous appetites to devour a feast of bream that had in the meantime been caught in some of the pools of the river. These fish were very numerous, and some of them were estimated to weigh 8lb.

A DEEP RIVER AND A THUNDERING CREEK.

The following day we travelled along the western bank of the river in a northerly direction for about 15 miles, until the channel cut into an impassable barrier of sandstone rock, which lay at right angles to the course of the river and extended for several miles both to the east and west.

Before entering into this barrier the river becomes very wide at various places. One of its reaches, besides which we subsequently pitched our depot camp, was about 50 chains long, three chains wide, apparently of great depth, and containing clear fresh water, which to the eye seemed to be still and motionless, but an inspection of the rocky bars which crossed the river bed at irregular intervals showed a rapid current. It was computed that over 11,000,000 gallons per hour flowed past a given point in the stream.

Turning away from the river, we travelled along the base of the before mentioned sandstone barrier for four miles, till we came to a large creek which poured its waters in a great chasm cutting right through the barrier. The cataract thus formed by the creek on entering the chasm was carefully measured by Mr. Allen, and showed a perpendicular depth of 95ft. A strong current flow in the creek, and the noise it made in leaping from the cliffs into the troubled cauldron, nearly a hundred feet below, was something deafening. These falls forcibly reminded me of nearly similar ones described by Captain King about 40 miles northwest of where we are.

A HANDSOME TREE.

A very handsome tree, with leaves resembling a large mulberry leaf, and containing a heavy foliage, was observed growing here in considerable numbers. Our Palmerston blacks called it “Lilirimir!,” but said it was now almost extinct in their territory. I had never seen it growing on the Fitzroy or Meda rivers of West Kimberley, or anywhere in the neighbourhood of Cambridge Gulf in East Kimberley. The wood is of a bright orange colour, and is easily worked.

A REMARKABLE WALL.

Nearly half the following day was wasted in getting our train across the sandstone range, although it was not more than half a mile wide at the greatest breadth. A little valley issuing out of the range on the lower side had its outlet obstructed by an artificial stone wall, that had evidently been in existence for many years, as large trees had grown round it. It was about two chains long, reaching from one bank of the valley to the other, and originally had been between 4ft. and 5ft. high. Some of its lower stones would weigh fully a hundred weight. I could form no conjecture as to what purpose it had bean intended for. It was not nearly high enough to be of service as a kan- [end of clipping].

the gentlemen appointed, Mr. Walcott and Mr. Pritchard, of Melbourne, both
of whom bore very high credentials. While they conferred the appointment
on Mr. Woodward, the Committee felt the utmost gratification at what they
considered the distinguished qualifications of the two gentlemen named.

number of citizens met to hear the Admistrator [sic] of the colony declare
the new Perth Museum open. The chairman of the committee, Sir JAMES LEE-
STEERE, introduced, so to speak, Sir ALEXANDER ONSLOW to the collection
which represents the beginning of what it may be hoped will become an
exhibition of objects of interest from scientific, natural historical,
artistic, and technological points of view, which will hold its own with
any of the collections of the of these Australian lands. There was no
effort at being unduly learned or instructive at the opening proceedings,
but none the less was the ceremony full of hope and promise for the infant
institution, which was, in a way, handed over to the public of Western
Australia yesterday. The only excursion into the domain of the scientific
was made by Mr. Bernard WOODWARD, to whose care and supervision the
condition of the Museum is chiefly due, and who gave some useful
explanations of the contents of some of the cases. The hall which is
devoted to the specimens which have been gathered together, is, so far,
ample for their accommodation, but with the assistance which it is hoped
Parliament will extend, the collection should be doubled, if not trebled,
in a couple of years. The words of welcome and approval uttered both by
the ADMINISTRATOR and Sir JAMES LEE-STEERE were appropriate if brief, and they and everyone who was present yesterday may be fully congratulated on the event of the day.

It is now something over eight years since a Commission was appointed by
Sir FREDERICK BROOME, under the direction of Mr. J. A. Wright, then
Director of Public Works for the colony, to consider the best means of
appropriating a sum of £3,000, which had been granted by Parliament to
mark the Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty, and, after discussion,
reported in favour of using the money to lay the foundations of what was
to be known as the Victoria Jubilee Institute. This was to comprise a
public library, a museum and a picture gallery. The first named was at
once given effect to, and the result is the excellent collection of books
now housed in the chambers of the old Western Australian Bank, but which
are already far too small for the volumes which have accumulated, and the
crowd of readers which they have attracted. It was originally intended
that the building which was to he the home of the new institute should be
erected on the site of the Boys’ School, and Mr. E. MILLAR generously
presented the foundation atone, which was laid with as much pomp and
circumstance as the colony admitted of on Jubilee Day, 1887. The stone
remains there enclosed in a wooden covering. Up to now many causes
prevented the committee proceeding with the rest of the design, but in the
present year Sir JOHN FORREST enlarged the committee, and promised his
best help in procuring sufficient funds from Parliament for the erecting
and stocking of a museum. The result is the building whose opening to the
public was inaugurated yesterday afternoon. If the funds are voted the
reproach will then rest with the committee if the endeavour to make a
collection worthy of the colony should fail. There are few things more to
be deprecated than the backwardness of Western Australia in scientific
concerns. It is only this year that an observatory is likely to be formed.
We have no University, and but two or three secondary schools. Yesterday
the public were admitted to their new museum. When we remember the
wonderful field which this colony opens to the geologist, botanist,
zoologist, entomologist, and ethnologist, it may be pronounced truly
surprising that no attempt should have been made to gather even an
elementary collection of nature’s marvels, which we are told are in no
place more marvellous or interesting than on this side of Australia. If
the specimens were confined to this colony alone, to do full justice to
its natural wealth there would be enough of endlessly interesting articles
to fill half a dozen galleries as large as that opened to the public
yesterday.

There is one topic touched upon by the speakers which deserves earnest
attention. Both Administrator and chairman, the latter distinctly we
cannot doubt voicing the opinion of the committee, and both the views of
the community, urged an early commencement with the work of forming a fine
art collection. That the feeling in favour of not delaying this effort any
longer is universal is hardly open to dispute. What is more debateable
[sic] is the right way to proceed. There are few more perfect means of
refreshments for the eye and brain and mind, as there are few higher
instruments of education, than pictures, fine pottery, fabrics, statuary
and the like. It is a singular and oven deplorable circumstance that not
only is there nothing of the kind open to public inspection in Perth, but
there is almost nothing of this description to be found in our private
houses. Those who have never left these shores must grow up in ignorance
of this world of wonders save for what they can glean about it from
photographs and engravings, excellent in their way, but only substitutes
at the best. But the choosing of pictures, for example, is by no means the
easy thing many, might suppose it to be. His EXCELLENCY warned his hearers
against the cheap imitations of good pictures which are to be picked up
for a trifle, and are, for the most part, of the same value. The chief
difficulty is the selector. It requires a good artist and impartial, to be
satisfactory—impartial not alone as regards different schools, but as
regards individuals. He must know a really good picture—not so common an
accomplishment even among artists as might be supposed. But this is far
from all. The selectors for most galleries fail because they think so much
of technical acquirements. They forget a picture for a popular gallery
should be itself popular. Numbers of the pictures purchased for galleries
here and in the British provinces are about as uninteresting as can well
be imagined. Yet the public are told that they are bound to admire
quality, and should find out beauties which are hidden to all but the eyes
of the initiated. The reply to this is that it is by the verdict of the
crowd that the place of all painters in the temple of fame is eventually
determined. It is also true that a few good pictures are worth a host of
inferior paintings, but it is further true that with some pains a number
of good pictures can be certainly secured by a competent man for the sum
which Parliament, there is every reason to believe, will be ready to vote
if it is asked. But there is time to consider all these things, provided
only they are not delayed beyond another year—that is, beyond the time
which may be required for the completion of a building fitted to hold them.

A LARGE gathering of the leading residents of the city were present at the
opening of the new Museum yesterday. The building occupies a portion of
the site of the old gaol and adjoins that building. The function of
declaring the building open was performed by His Excellency the
Administrator. In the course of the speeches which were made, it was
stated that the committee hoped to add a library and an art gallery,
besides materially extending the usefulness of the Museum. The whole of
the proceedings were of a most successful character, and the committee and
the Curator, Mr. B. H. Woodward were very heartily congratulated upon the
success which had attended their labours.

The museum which was established by Sir William Robinson, during his second Governorship, was for several years under the care of the Rev. C. G. Nicolay, at Fremantle, and the complimentary references made to his services as curator, by His Excellency the Governor, in the course of Wednesday’s proceedings, are thoroughly deserved. Subsequently when the discovery of gold and other minerals had given to the museum a greater importance than it previously appeared to possess, it was moved to Perth, and at the last session of Parliament, a sum was placed upon the estimates as a salary for a curator, Mr. B. H. Woodward receiving the appointment.

This gentleman, who is also the Government Analyst, has accomplished a useful though difficult work, in getting this nucleus of a public museum into its present orderly and useful condition. As already mentioned, the Rev. C. G. Nicolay began the formation of the collection in Fremantle, and it was pleasant to see him present at the ceremony on Wednesday. Since Mr. Woodward was appointed curator, he has re-labelled and classified the specimens. Mr. Woodward also acted as local secretary for sending specimens from this colony to, the Mineralogical Exhibition held last year in London; and these exhibits having been returned safely to Perth, they form now an important part of the present museum.

To these and other specimens received from various sources, Mr. Woodward has added, as a loan, his own large collection, which is typical of the mineralogy of most parts of the world, and  has been collected by him during some 20 years, and is very useful here in  helping to identify the various minerals found in this colony.

It is noteworthy that, while Western Australia is exciting a keen interest as a gold-bearing country of rare promise, yet this is essentially a country of iron ores. These are not readily marketable at present notwithstanding their abounding quantity, because the dearness of local labour prevents competition with European smelting but the time may come when West Australian iron will take an important position in the market.

The mineral specimens now in the museum include lead ores from Northampton, where fine pure ore is obtainable from 10 inches to 3 feet in thickness, and is likely to come into extensive demand for use in the treatment of the silver ores of Broken Hill.  This ore is remarkable—geologically—for its fine crystals.

In auriferous ores there are specimens of gold in pyrites, from the Darling Range, wonderfully rich samples, lent by the Hon. H. W. Venn, from the Murchison clusters, also very fine specimens sent down by Mr. W. L. Owen, the late Warden of the Pilbarra field, as well as numerous specimens from the Yilgarn and Kimberley fields.

Tin ores are well represented from the Greenbushes, and some remarkable specimens from the North West, these being very curious for size and lustre. Round the sides of the room are ranged the rock collections made by successive Government Geologists, namely, Mr. H. Y. L. Brown, Mr. Hardman, and Mr. H. P. Woodward, who now fills the office. Although the museum is not yet sufficiently well-known, Mr. Woodward has, however, during the year, received a good number of visitors, especially strangers interested in mining. The room it occupies, formerly used as the chapel, in the old gaol, a building now used as auxiliary Government offices.

Among those present at the opening were sir John Forrest, the Chief Justice and Mrs. Onslow, Sir James and Lady Steere, the Hon. W. E. Marmion, Hon. J. G. H. Amherst, Hon. J. W. Hackett, Dr. and Mrs. Waylen, Dr. and Mrs. Jameson, Dr. and Mrs. Harvey, Mr. Traylen, M.L.A., Messrs. W. D. Holmes, S. R. Hammersley, A. E. Burt, Rev. C. G. Nicolay, &c., &c.

The curator, Mr. Woodward, explained to members and visitors the more interesting features of the museum, and nearly an hour was passed pleasantly in this way.

His Excellency the Governor arrived shortly before 4 o'clock, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Captain Stuart, and Sir Henry Wrenfordsley. After some time spent by His Excellency in inspecting the exhibits, [sic]

The PRESIDENT (Sir John Forrest) said:
Your Excellency and ladies and gentlemen,—I am sure we are all pleased to see your Excellency here to- day, to open to the public this Geological Museum. It is a small beginning, a very small one, I am sorry to say but I hope and believe that it is a beginning which is to be the forerunner of something very far better in the future.

The want of a museum in Perth, the capital of the colony is one of these very many wants that we feel in a young and growing colony; but I hope that in the very near future something may be done to give to the people of this colony, and to the inhabitants of Perth, a museum worthy of the name.

All great countries vie with each other in providing institutions for the education and elevation of their people, and all visitors to them must be impressed with the number and extent of the picture galleries, libraries, museums, in in [sic] which works of art and instruction are stored, and which serve not only as sources of enjoyment to the people in those respective countries, but also as great public educators.

The Old World, in these respects, is very different from the New; for one cannot but be struck, in visiting Australia or America, as comparatively new countries, with the greater advantages enjoyed by people in the older countries, where such institutions abound. In America or Australia, there is nothing equivalent to the British Museum; there are no such museums or picture galleries as those which so impress the visitor to Naples; there is no Vatican as at Rome, with its beautiful mosaics and its priceless statuary; you have no such magnificent picture galleries as those at Vienna or Munich; but, on the contrary, the people in these newer countries are mostly engaged in their necessary occupations, their first care necessarily being to create material wealth. What great advantages, therefore, those persons have who can travel in other parts of the world and see those beautiful objects; and what opportunities for gaining knowledge and the highest enjoyment have those people living in countries where such facilities are provided.

In Australia, of course, we are a new people; but I am very glad to be able to say that in the larger colonies of Australia great efforts have been made to give to the people those opportunities of knowledge which are common to every one living in the older portions of the world.

In Melbourne, there are the beautiful Victorian Public Library, and the magnificent Technological Museum the, Natural History Museum and the beautiful parks laid out with plants from all parts of the world, their names engraved on tablets with particulars by which every passer-by may learn the name of each plant, the order to which it belongs, and its native habitat.

In Sydney, also, there are a magnificent Public Library, a Technological Museum, and an Art Gallery, where fine pictures are stored; besides the splendid public garden called the Domain, where not only have the many plants from various parts of the world their names and habitat set forth on tablets, but also where the beautiful lawns and glades are adorned with statuary imported from various parts of the Old World, by the wisdom of such public men as the present Premier, Sir Henry Parkes.

All these tend to elevate and educate the people of these colonies ; and it is with that view that this little museum in Perth is being opened to-day. We hope it is only the forerunner of what will in the future be a great public institution. We must follow—of course at some distance—the great efforts made in other parts of the world ; but I see no reason whatever why, in this colony, we should not be able, in the very near future, to build a museum worthy of the colony, and also have public gardens and other means for the enjoyment and higher education of the people, surrounding this beautiful city of Perth. (Applause.)

Nature has given us great advantages, and we have already provided the land necessary for a public park, and for other public buildings. I can only hope that we shall not be wanting in our exertions to provide for this city, and for this colony, museums and art galleries which will not only be educators and also be sources of enjoyment for the people, but also be sources of enjoyment and attraction to the people who visit us from other parts.

In conclusion, I have very much pleasure in welcoming Sir William Robinson, and in asking him to formally open this museum. I am sorry that it is not of greater pretensions, but we must hope there will be better things for us in the future. I am sure the Governor has great pleasure in being here to-day because he has always manifested an interest—in Australia and wherever he has been—in all those public movements which tend to give enjoyment to the public and to elevate the community. (Applause.)

His EXCELLENCY then said:
Sir John, ladies and gentlemen,—
It is not always that a man, when he makes a mistake, realises its full effect immediately. I confess I have, within the last few minutes, made a mistake which I now realise—I will not say to my own satisfaction—and that mistake was in allowing Sir John Forrest to speak before me ; for he has said almost everything that is appropriate to the occasion, and has said it so well that it will be quite unnecessary for me to repeat his words.

There is a story of two gentlemen sitting alongside each other at a public dinner, one being a ready speaker, and the other not so ready, so that the less ready speaker found it necessary to prepare a few notes before attempting to speak in public. Mr. A had no notes of what he intended to say, but Mr. B had his notes ready on the table by his side. Well, Mr. A manages, during the dinner, to steal Mr. B's notes, and being a ready speaker, and happening to he called on first, he made a most elaborate speech from the topics suggested in Mr. B's notes, to the great delight and benefit of the audience, but to the silent consternation of poor Mr. B. (Laughter.)

I do not mean to suggest that Sir John has used my notes on this occasion, because I had none prepared, but he has taken the wind out of my sails completely. (Laughter.)

Most heartily do I endorse his remarks as to the duty of a Government to beautify the principal towns of a colony with public gardens, picture galleries, museums, and so forth, for the enjoyment and education of the people. In opening this museum to-day, it would be very unbecoming on my part if I were to omit some reference to the services of a gentleman who is now present, and who started the first museum of this character in Australia.

The Rev. Mr. Nicolay, many years ago, I think in conjunction with myself, took the steps necessary to make a mineral collection at Fremantle. The collection so made has been presented to this Museum, and forms a very interesting portion of the larger collection which you now see. That was in the days before gold had been discovered here in payable quantities ; but Mr. Nicolay always told
me, in those early days, that gold would be found in payable quantities, and certainly he has proved in this respect a true prophet.

The gold which has been found in in [sic]Western Australia has changed at once the whole character of his colony, which now promises to be one of the richest gold- producing colonies in Australia; and I believe that reefs which cannot now he worked profitably, in consequence of the difficulty of communication, will, when other railways are completed, be brought into work and will
then be very payable. And now we have hare an illustration of one great value of such a collection of mineral specimens, and which collection we hope presently to increase: it is that when strangers come to Perth or to other parts of the colony, and want to know reliably what part they should go to in search of gold or other minerals, they may learn from these specimens where to go, and what are their prospects of success. If only in this respect this collection will be of great practical value to the colony.

About the time when the great gold finds of Western Australia created a stir, a mine was started at Kendenup, somewhere near Albany, and a deal of money was expended in it, a manager being appointed, and some work done; but unfortunately the gold which was believed to be there was not extracted in payable quantity. But I have here (looking at a ring), in my possession, something rather interesting to me. It is a gold ring, and is very nearly the only piece of gold which was got out of that reef at the time. They were kind enough to present it to me, and I had it made into a gold ring. Plain gold rings are usually somewhat expensive, but I do not know of any gold ring that represents a greater money value than this one.

I thought I was invited here to partake of a cup of tea, and to look at these interesting specimens, and that no formal speaking would be required; but I am delighted to be present at the starting of this museum, and pleased to have the opportunity of congratulating my old friend Mr. Nicolay, on the accomplishment of what he has long desired, and what I believe will be the starting of a noble institution in this most beautiful city of Perth. (Applause.)

The REV. C. G. NICOLAY then gave an account of the origin of the mineral collection which has been the nucleus of the museum, and he congratulated the colony on having now acquired a Geological Museum, while disclaiming the title of “museum” as too pretentious for the limited collection formerly at Fremantle.

He said that a number of mineral specimens were, in the early days of the colony, lying about the various Government offices ; and it being suggested to Sir William Robinson, who was then Governor of the colony, that these should be collected together, and be added to as opportunity offered, a collection was got together in a vacant guard-room at Fremantle, there being then no suitable place available in Perth. Two glazed book-cases were then sufficient to contain the specimens, which were added to very slowly, as additions by exchange with other colonies
were not then practicable, and no money grant from the Government was then available. But when Sir William Robinson was removing to South Australia as its new Governor, he allotted £50 for increasing the specimens, which amount was afterwards continued as a yearly grant from the Legislative Council.

At the exhibition held in London in 1886, more than 200 selected specimens of the minerals [missing text] … lar specimens had made Western Australia a familiar name to geologists, palaeontologists, and even to chemists, owing to peculiar composition of the Youndegin meteorite. No doubt much more might have been done in the past to enlarge the collection, if more liberal assistance had been available, and more sympathy had been manifested, or if the collection had been under the charge of an expert who could devote his whole time and energy to it. The reverend gentleman, in concluding his remarks, hoped that under better auspices and direction, the collection might soon become a museum worthy of the name and of the colony. (Applause.)

The CURATOR also made a few practice remarks. He announced that the collection would be open in future every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p. m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. The arrangement adopted here was to keep the ores separate—the gold-bearing ores, the lead ores, and the tin ores; while the other minerals were arranged on the system adopted in the British Museum. Some other specimens belonging really to this collection were at present in the museum attached to the Mechanics' Institute. He then proposed, on behalf of the Hon. J. G. H. Amherst, that the Hon. W. E. Marmion be elected a member of the Natural History Society, seconding the nomination himself, the ballot to take place at the next meeting.

This concluded the formal proceedings. A vote of thanks was accorded by acclamation to his Excellency for his attendance, on the motion of the Hon. J. G. H. AMHERST.

Tea and coffee, provided by the West Australian Natural History Society through the kindness of Mrs. Jameson and Mrs. Harvey who superintended the arrangements, were partaken of by the members and visitors, before leaving the building.

There is, however, one danger which needs to be forseen. While within the next few years Western Australia may be made quite as desirable a country to live in as any of the Eastern colonies, so far as mere comfort and convenience are concerned, the younger generation growing up in the colony may find themselves at a disadvantage educationally, as compared with the youth of the Eastern colonies and the United Kingdom.

Western Australia is pre-eminently a colony where a young man anxious to push his way in the world may hope to succeed, and it may be expected that for some time to come greater proportionate progress will be made in ten years here than in half a century of the life of many older countries. But for educational purposes no one would choose Western Australia as being in any way conspicuous. Putting aside those studies necessary for a professional career, and supposing merely that a lad wishes to prepare himself for the occupations of mining or farming, for which there are unlimited openings in Australia, he can in most, if not all, of the Eastern colonies obtain instruction suited for his purpose. He will find schools of mines, agricultural colleges, geological and botanical museums, and experimental gardens at hand. He has, in fine, excellent opportunities of obtaining that scientific knowledge and training which is of inestimable value to the miner and the agriculturist. But the West Australian lad, unless his parents can afford to send him out of the colony for his education, is at present quite denied advantages like these. The lack is undoubtedly serious, and the duty of supplying it as far as practicable is one which no wise Government will fail to keep in view.

That we possess vast natural resources is indisputable, and if constant reiteration of that gratifying fact is of any service, we are not likely to forget it. But if these resources are to be turned to good account there must be some knowledge of nature, some acquaintance with the contents of her vast laboratory, some discrimination in selecting what to utilise and what to leave alone.

The meeting of the West Australian Natural History Society, at the Geological Museum, yesterday, serves to remind us that, in one direction at least, and in a very important direction, modest but very useful effort is being made to supply the colony with an educational adjunct, which should prove of special value in relation to its mineral resources. It is a happy coincidence that what may he described as the formal opening of the Geological Museum should have fallen to the lot of a Governor, who, during a previous term of office, was responsible for its inauguration.

In the intervening years the Museum has undergone a course of self- development rather than exercised any educational influence in the way of spreading knowledge of the colony's geological formations and mineral wealth. Until a comparatively recent period, it was housed in a room. adjacent to the private residence of the late curator—the Rev C. G. NICOLAY, —to whose fostering care in the struggling days of its infancy it owes so much, and it may safely be said that its existence, unless in some vague, indeterminate way, was known only to a few. Its removal to a more central position in Perth was a decided attempt to burst forth from its chrysalis state, and the appointment of a salaried curator, in the person of Mr. B. H. WOODWARD, has also helped to direct attention to an institution which, if rightly used, should have a very definite and practical value to the colony.

But even now the museum is not so well- known as it should be. The gloomy pile which has been assigned to the Geological Department for its head quarters and which was built for quite different uses, is not the place where one would expect to find a museum except for the relics of criminality, and it can only be regarded as a temporary habitation. But the gathering of yesterday and the publicity which it will receive through the medium of the press will no doubt materially help to awaken the public to a knowledge of the museum's existence, and it may be recognised that the old gaol, like the toad, ugly, if not venemous, “wears yet a precious jewel in his head.”

But a museum for the housing and display of geological specimens does not include all that is needed by the colony in this direction, as was pointed out by both the Governor and the Premier yesterday. We have to look forward in the future to the establishment of botanical, ethnological, zoological and technological museums, as well as a fine art gallery.

As yet we have not one of these in the colony, but the time has certainly come when the Government should take in hand the collection of objects for all of these, no matter how small the scale on which operations have first to be begun. And it will be noted with peculiar satisfaction that the PREMIER has promised that the Government will make an early attempt to supply all those deficiencies, and undertake seriously the creation of these institutions.

The initial step, however, is to provide a suitable building in which collections as they accumulate can he properly housed. If the Government can see their way to make the necessary provision for this purpose, they may rest assured that there are few objects for which the colony will more willingly sanction a moderate expenditure. Even with an immediate beginning it must be many a year before any of our local museums can hope to compare with the fine collections in the Eastern colonies. But these had their day of small things, and it is astonishing what steady progress can be achieved by the help of a moderate annual grant, provided its expenditure is placed in competent hands.

The present excellent museum at Adelaide, which comprises all the branches we have named, has grown in this modest fashion, and excluding the cost of the admirable building which it occupies on North Terrace, the expenditure incurred in bringing it to its present condition has been very much less than might be supposed. The temptation which we must resist here, at least for some years to come, is that of spending too much on bricks and mortar.

The ambition to provide a fitting home for our national collections is a worthy one, but it must be withstood until such a time as the colony is in a position to build a habitation of which it can feel proud. But when that time does come our whole strength should be put into the work. There is a deep truth in the teaching of RUSKIN that architecture is the revealing medium or lamp through which flames a people's passions, and which is the embodiment of their polity, life, faith or no-faith. And even in the first simple building, the mere shell of brick or jarrah, with no other object but to provide safe housing and shelter against the elements, one of the first principles of architecture, the law of truth, or the spirit of reality and sincerity characteristic of all noble schools of the art, can be observed. An effort could he made, if only for economy's sake, apart from beauty's, to dispense with all that sham and bastard ornamentation which is the curse of so many modern attempts at architecture. Better to have a plain structure revealing itself as such than some pretentious pile aping the palace, and with sham written on every gew-gaw and bit of trumpery that vainly strive to hide its real nature. All the money that can he raised should as far as possible be spent in collecting, for some years to come.

THE members of the West Australian Natural History Society paid a visit to the Geological Museum yesterday, and opportunity was taken of the presence of His Excellency the Governor to formally open the museum to the public. The museum, which occupies what formerly was the chapel of the old gaol, has now attained some magnitude, as a collection and scientific classification of the minerals, especially the marketable ores, of West Australia, together with other valuable specimens lent by the Curator, Mr. Bernard H. Woodward, representing the geology of most parts of the world.

A numerous company of members and visitors, including a goodly number of ladies, assembled in the afternoon to be present at the opening ceremony. Speeches appropriate to the occasion, were delivered by Sir John Forrest, who opened the proceedings, his Excellency the Governor, the Rev. C. G. Nicolay, who had first commenced the collection at Fremantle, and Mr. Woodward the Curator. An extended report of the proceedings is unavoidably held over till to-morrow, for want of space.