ESTABLISHING ‘ASHBURTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 127, 11 March 1939, Page 8

ESTABLISHING ‘ASHBURTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

NO. 7, As mentioned before, the Borough Council held its lirst meeting in Mr Braddell’s (the Clerk’s) offices in Montgomery’s Buildings. But a virile young body such as it was could liot be content with such quarters. Hence it immediately started to look round for a section on which it could build Council Chambers. It applied to the General Government in November, 1878, for section 770, but was told that it could not be granted, because it was to be used as a site for a Courthouse. This rather dampened the spirits of the Councillors, especially as they had already in November seen a sketch of a building drawn by Mr C. E. Fooks, and in December had asked him to draw up specifications for his 'plan. It was suggested that the Council might take rooms in the Courthouse about to be built. After some consideration the Council turnecl down this suggestion as it was thought to be too costly. Erection of Borough Council Chambers. Later again (Dec. 1878) the Resident Magistrate wrote to the Council regarding the proposed building for the joint purposes of Council’s offices and R.M. Court, but the Council stood on its dignity and replied that it’could not re-open the question and intended to erect offices for its own use. l'n June, 1879, it was decided to build a Council Chamber and two rooms, and the following month the plan submitted by Mr C. E. Fooks for the Council’s offices was adopted—the building to cost approximately £SOO. By October, 1879, the offices were evidently built for the purchase of tables*, blinds, etc., for the new offices was left to the Mayor, the Engineer, and the Clerk. But strangely enough the site on which the building was placed was not recorded in the Minutes of the Council, and it was not until about two years later that an indirect statement was made in the records regarding the offices

in Burnett Street and a more direct one in May, 1882,. when discussions were taking place regarding a site for the new library in which the Fire Brigade sitfc (Section 503, where the Plunket rooms are now) and the Council Chambers in Burnett Street were involved. Actually the old Council offices site is the one where the Fire Brigade Station is now, Reserve 1642 Sec. 450 and 451—the old offices being occupied by the caretaker of the Brigade quarters, and the old building in the yard (now being used by the Council as a tool house), is the one that used to be in the Brigade Yard on Section 503.

Council Offices and Library. The story of how the Council offices came to he .shifted to the present site (Reserve 766, Section 212) revolves round the history of the New Public Library. On February 21, 1882, Mr Joseph Ward attended the Borough Council meeting as a deputation from the Library Committee (the old library was in a small building opposite the old Borough School, now St. Stephen’s Hall site) to ask the Council to lease a portion of Reserve 766 as a site lor a public library. The question was handed over to the Reserves Committee to report on. In April Mr Harrison moved that a special committee be appointed to consider and recommend a good site for the Library. On May 15, 1882, Messrs Ward and Zouch attended the Council meeting to ask that a title to the section the Borough Council promised would be given, should be prepared as soon as possible, as the Library Committee proposed commencing the building in accordance with the plans exhibited. In the discussion that followed it was agreed that the committee which had been appointed by the Council should confer with a committee of the Fire Brigade on the subject of allocating the whole or part of the Fire Brigade site (Section 503) for Library purposes—such committee to report to a special meeting to be held on the following Thursday. The Fire Brigade Station. At this meeting, held on May 18. 1882. it was reported that the Council and the Fire Brigade Committees had met but that the Fire Brigade did not want to part with Section 503, and had suggested that the Council be recommended to grant Section 212. Reserve 766, this being the site originally asked for bv the Library Committee and

Difference of Opinion Regarding Site

Specially written for the “Guardian ” by John Bbown, “ Lowcliffe,” Ashburton. (Copyright.)

which the Conference considered equally as suitable for a. Library site as the one occupied by the Brigade. The report was received and after a long discussion Mr Ivess moved, land Mr Harrison seconded, “that the report of the committee be confirmed.” The Mayor (Mr D. ’Williamson) moved as an amendment “that this Council devotes part of Section 503 to the purpose of a Public Library, that the Fire Brigade be allowed to use the other part with the option of removal to Reserve 1642 in Burnett Street—now partly occupied by the Council Chamber and Yards, and, should the Brigade' elect to remove, this 'Council bears the expense of such removal.” This amendment was carried bn the easting vote of the Chairman. An Agreement Reached. In August, 1882, the Mayor reported (as had been .left to him to do) on the proposed division of the site (503) between the Library Committee and the Fire Brigade, which seemed to be satisfactory to both parties. The Mayor moved that the sketch plan be adopted and that.the Bell Tower and Lamp Post be placed on the Triangle immediately opposite the Cass. Strect frontage. .*• ' v . On September 18, 1882, Mr Ward attended as a deputation to the Borough Council to request “that the fee simple of the site granted by the Council for a Public Library might be handed to the Library Committee], and requested that the Council’s answer might be forwarded as soon as possible. Sir Andrew On* moved, and it was carried, that “at the request of the Library Committed, the Council offers no objection to the granting of the fee simple of part of section 503 for Library purposes.” A Decision Reversed. But what appears to be a complete reversal of the above resolution occurred on February 5, 1883, when Mr St. Hill gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting that Section 212, Reserve 766, bo granted to the (Library Committee for a Library site instead of part of Section 503, and a't the meeting on Fob. 19, 1883, the motion was carried unanimously.

To put things in order Mr Harrison on April 2, 1883, moved, and it was carried, that the resolution passed on May 18, 1882, granting a portion of .Section 503 as a Library site, be now rescinded—the Library Committee having chosen another site. It would seem, as a plain matter of fact, that the strenuous opposition of the Fire Brigade and its supporters had caused this reversal. Council Takes Over Library. Meanwhile the Library Committee had gone on with the construction of the Library on its present site. Evidently financial difficulty caused the Library Committee through, its Secretary on September 29, 1884, to write to the Borough Council asking if the Council would be prepared to consider the question of taking over the Library. It was resolved to call a special meeting to consider definite proposals by the Library Committee. On October 13, 1884, this meeting was held, the Library deputation being Messrs J. Ward, Zouch, Hogg, D. H. Brown, and the Rev. E. A. Scott. It was stated that the Library subscribers had unanimously resolved to hand over the Library building and site to the Council. As. a suggestion from the deputation the rights of the life members should be preserved, find two or three men from the subscribers be placed oil the Library Committee, not to interfere in money matters, but to help in the choice of books. ’ The actual liabilities amounted, to £370 ISs od, of which £3OO was due to the Ashburton Permanent Building Society and which it was stated could remain for a term of years, or the Directors would accept immediate payment and release the mortgage. The subscriptions amounted to about £SO per annum, and the Government subsidy was £4O the previous year. » The Mayor moved “that the lease of Borough Reserve 766 to the Ashburton Public Library be cancelled, and that the Council assume the control and management of the Library. . This resolution was carried. Meeting in Library Building. Mr Joseph Ward said the deputation had received full authority to act in this matter for the subscribers, and he now thanked the Mayor and Councillors and accepted the terms of the Council as set forth in the resolution just carried. On Nov. 11, 1884, -the foregoing resolution was confirmed, and the following Library Committee was appointed: Messrs John Orr, Andrew Orr, Leggett, Harrison and Bird. On November 24, 1884, the Library Committee recommended that the offices of the Council be moved to the Library Building. The Engineer produced a plan showing the alterations necessary to render the upper floor of the Library suitable for the offices of the Council. And on December 8, 1884, “the Ma yor (Mr D. Williamson) congratulated the Council on having such a fine room for its meeting. The building they were now in was more suitable and he hoped that at no very distant date the Council would erect a handsome building for its own use on the adjoining section.”