Of Wide Extent

Introducing Mr Taylor, the president of the Historical Society, Mr L. E. H. Baigent, said that many present had known Dr Bett personally. They thought they knew what the collection consisted of, but really had no idea of its wide extent till cataloguing of it had been undertaken at the Turnbull Library.

The Deputy-Mayor, Mr F. J. Lock, who moved a vote of thanks to Mr Taylor, said that the old Marsden home, set in the beauty of Isel Park, would be an ideal location for the Bett collection and other valuable historical material held in Nelson.

"I want you all to leave this meeting as ambassadors telling everyone that purchase of the Marsden home for this purpose by the city is a must for Nelson," Mr Lock said.

In reply to questions at the conclusion of his address, Mr Taylor said that the Bett collection could be accommodated in a hall about the size of the one they were in. It should be kept as a separate entity, but he suggested that other similar Nelson historical material could be put in other rooms in the same building.

Mr J. A. Jenkins pointed out that the Nelson Historical Society already had a large collection and this was being added to all the time. There was available for display, in addition to much manuscript and printed matter, the big Tyree collection of early Nelson photographs and a valuable selection on antique silver.