THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10756, 8 September 1900, Page 3

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

SOME RECENT PUI-GHASES.

j • The reference library has just been en. I ticheds by the addition of some forty volumes purchased- by the librarian, Mr Strong, from a collection of imported books recently disjposed of in Wellington. It is the policy of the library authorities to secure a copy of all books relating to iNew Zealand. The purchase recently made comprises some extremely interesting volumes. Amongst others is J.. J. Wild's "Story of the Voyage of the Challenger," from 1-72 to 1876; A. De La Motraye's "Travels Through Europe. Asia, and part of Africa," in 1723, "Statues Ancient and Modern," a large volume, illustrated with, over 100 beautiful engravings of statuary, taken from the originals in the Vatican. Swarbreck's "Sketches in Scotland, contains some beautiful engravings. Lewis De BougainviMe's "Voyage Round the World," 1772, and Etienne Marchand's Voyage Round the World," .1790, 1791,. 17-2, are. interesting books of'travel; while R. Montgomery Martin's "History of the Indian Empire,'" 3 vols., is a valuable work. "The Ancient Poem of Guillaume de GuileviUe" is a sort of French Pilgrim's Progress, full of curious plates. "A Ballade of the Scottyssbe Kynge," by John Skelton, is said to be:the earliest known printed English ballad. "Diary of the Marches of the Royal Army during the Great Civil War" is an interesting award oi -evtjats, kept by one Richard Symondk. "The New Zealand Question and the Rights of Aboriginies," by Louis Alexis Chamerovzow, 1848, deals mostly with the Maoris and their treatment by the early colonists, and will no doubt . be useful to future historians of this colony. The library authorities aire to be congratulated on having secured, at an extremely moderate figure, some rare and interesting volumes.