The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News, and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1880.

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3163, 8 September 1880, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News, and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1880.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For the wronn that needs resistance, I'or the future in the distance, And the food tli.it we can do

The opening of the Free Public Library which, thanks to tho hospitality and good taato of tho Mayor, was celebrated in a most pleasant and appropriate manner last night, is an event that will always bo distinguished in the annals of Auckland. It is specially eminoDt as being one of the first fruits of a now departure in our city government. The disposition of some of our past Councils has been to limit tho functions of tho municipal authority to tho mere making and repairing of roads and footpaths. The corporations of the groat towns iv England lay claim to nobler offices, and wo hail the Public Library as a recognition by our own Council of responsibility in relation to tho social and intellectual well-being of the citizens. The progress of Auckland during tho paßt five years augurs well for the future. With equal breadth in city government through tho ensuing five years, we shall be able to boast of a model town—one worthy the imitation of other municipalities. And now that tho necessary funds are at tho disposal of the Council to improve the park site, which has by a fortunate accident been reserved in the very centre of the city, and to establish a fitting permanent homo for the institution that was opened last evening, the coming year should not be behind the past one in good works. Wo hopo to see the opening of a Free Public Library followed speedily by Public Baths. And there will still remain plenty of occupation to excite the emulation of a race of Mayors animated by a laudable ambition to leavo their names to an admiring posterity.

The speeches laab night gavo an admirable review of the history of book collecting and it 3 modern development —free public libraries. Our full report to-day obviates the necessity for further remarks on this subject. But we think it is to bo regretted that the call for voluntary speaker's did not bring forward one or other of that little knot; of bookworms who, through good report and bad report, clung to the ancient library and hall in which the assemblage was last evening gathered; The history of the old Mechanics' Institute, told by one of its familiar spirits, would make a queer story. How every attempt to revive it appeared to be a hopeless struggle against destiny, and doomed to certain disappointment, and yet how a modest number of old fogies and ardent young searchers after truth found shelter and sedate happiness within its mouldering Avails. And who shall fix the limit of the influence which tho radiating light of knowledge, feeble and glimmering though it was, has exercised upon the minds of inhabitants of this city. The old habitues who, by iunate modesty and instinctive shrinking from the public gaze were deterred from stepping forward and publicly proclaiming the good genius of their old love, dkl not receive a due meed of praise in the prevailing cnlogiums of the night. For after all it is to their constancy in adversity we owe tho preservation of the Institute and the final effort which has blossomed into such excellent fruition. Wo have a pleasant recollection of the circumstances under which two of tho most indomitable, when all other hope had failed, came to solicit our aid in a final effort to save the lamp of knowledge from going out within the Institute walls. And when the request for a grant was refused by the City Council, we cannot forget how, aided by such advocacy us we were able to give through these columns, they button-holed the whole town and literally dragged the ratepayers' to poll for the library. Nor can we fail to remember what

dismay spread through the camp when it was bruited abroad that a formidable opposition to even an additional half-penny on the rates had I een organized, and the rejoicing when, at the close of an arduous contest, it was found that the day had beeu won by overwhelming numbers. One of tho two never lived to see tho final accomplishment of his wishes. The other appeared to enjoy tho Mayor's tea and buns with tho gusto of v mau who honostly folt ho had earned his reward.

We most cordially endorse the good wishes which were very freely expressed last night, and hope our citizons will take a prido in thoir Free Public Library. In Molboumo, it is tho first institution that attracts tho attention of tho visitor, and the ono ho loaves behind with tho most genuine- regret. Through tho exertions of thoso who have gone before, Auckland has boon enabled to make a very fair start, and it will bo discreditable to the city if tho library is not well patronised and rapidly improved and enlarged.