A HISTORICAL COLLECTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 158, 4 July 1906, Page 7

A HISTORICAL COLLECTON.

THE BRESERVATION: OF -BISHOP The -lecture $»t was given yesterday afternoon in the-library at Bwtopscourt, Parnell, by'the Tb&r. Wi (S. :r Jlbnck'tpn,_ M.A., diocesan librarian, opeiiecjp iip- c j long vista of fast dimming associations •w:itK the historic past, a past in whichtbat giajit colonial e&urchman, Breh'op Selwyn, is one of the. central * figuresround which , ' revolve ihe life, and not - infrequent vicissitudes," *of: : ' the" ? early' colonial church. The books and poript rocords of Bislipp SelwynV library, ■tt'hich": Bupplied the tfieme of Mr; Monckton's "are." mostly richi. 'M in-tw-esif to all who delight Sn\ searching oat the links that help to weld the chain of pa&t and present; but .apart from this domestic interest; the collection/contains a number of 'rare and" valtiable works that are Well "febfthy of the "most careful preservation.';' these books are, at present in sad Reed bf rebinding, white their ? " housing in'open shelves within"a "wodden' building is, 'rev suiting/in unmistakable, evidences .'"of ; damp and 'diist. ..'.'. Bishop * Neligan," whe.i preeided> pointed"ihiß fact out, and. ftis^ j explained that as %ha.' Trust Board lyrer* unable to *flnd necessary;funds, about 20 guineas, to defray the expense of glass casee and neeesfeary re-binding, it was hoped to -obtsiin this sum by subscription through the efforts 6i'Mr. In : jhe .course of his disccurse thtvleeturer referred to many inf tr-resting relics-i of Bishop Selwyn; that the library'con&iiied. 'One 'of these War his family Bible —afac-simile of the vel- 1 lum .tojjy: of -the edition^of the t'nres ' specially printed' Tor' the use ; pf J Wiliiam'TV:." '". O'n'*j&e"*f|y : leaffaVe «parti- J ciilars of tlie Bislidp's own" marriage in and of the baptism of liis son -Wilr Hath, to whom Iff. I fatner, tliai statesman'W' autograph Jbeing I appendedr Anothei "exceedingly;; inter* j esting work" as a copy of. onef i>f the ear-- '< iiest attempts to'-'translate''the-.New; TeetamGnt' into Maori, which was undertaken by " AixMeacqn-jWiiliams '?■ <aitej> waids of' WarajpuKf-tTie M Mauhseir," Hγ. Hamlin 7( Bisfiop" Selwjn'i secretary), and Mr. PucKey"" ( a miasioiiary)'.' Among' whose Kgejkiont constitutes Tiluei's »'copy" dif-the-brTg-iriar edition ;i3'. reply" to TSSIT brafy is,' in fadtj probably" one 61 "tHe most valuable collections of its size and sort in the colonies, and is undoubtedly deseryijjgiof?ai:Bstt^r: fateTihanlfhe slow decay that confronts it, .unless Steps are taken for its preservation. The librarian mentioned that several gentlemen had promised donations, and he trusted that ■ attottiif w'dtild' be "raised by the book lovers of Alicklind; ar'mahy of the works, if once lost' or' damaged, could never be replaced. ' ' ! "K [ ! ' S ;