Life in Nelson and district in the early days can be reconstructed in some detail already from material contained in the F. A. Bett Collection of books, manuscripts and other printed matter, and when the collection is finally housed in Nelson the opportunities for research will be extended.

Together with the records of various kinds already gathered by the Nelson Historical Society, including the irreplaceable Tyree collection of early Nelson photographs and negatives, the Bett material will form a local historical record unique in New Zealand.

Interest in having the collection permanently housed in Nelson has been stimulated by moves now being made to persuade the City Council to buy the old Marsden homestead at Stoke for the project.