HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12602, 19 September 1906, Page 9

HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.

IX) BE HANDED TO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Mr J. C. Andersen, of tho Landu Department, who has been engaged for somo time cataloguing the historical documents which havo been discovered in tho old Government Buildings, has now concluded his task. Ho has b?en in-structed by the Department to hand over the dr.cunients to the Public Library, after such of them aii may be selected have been displayed in the Canterbury court, at the Exhibition. The maps and water-colour pictures of Wcstland aro to be offered to the West Coast court. If not wanted there they will be displayed in the Canterbury court, wall space having been reserved for tho purpose. The authoritieu of the Canterbury Public Library havo now the opportunity of securing h.ii»-tori-cal documents of very great value, and if they do not do so the Wellington and other libraries are on tho alert to secure tiho treasures. It would, however, not at all bo in accord with the fitness of things if tho archives of Canterbury wore allowed to pa-sis out of tho province. No doubt the Public Library authorities will only be too glad of the opportunity thuis afforded of securing documents which will bo of tlie utmost interest, not alone in the present generation but to those which come niter us.

Tho niaiiuscrintb include the first letter books of the Provincial Superintendent ; receipt butts of early cash sales of land; original land orders for selection of Christchurch eeetions; Captain Thomas's day books and vouchors; the original mortgage deed on property of the Canterbury Association to secure £10,000 Hats of pastoral runs; and list of the first Christchurch town sections sold.

The bound volumes of newspapers number 120, and include 02 volumes of tho "Lyttelton Times," from 18.31 to 1876; and 32 volumes of "Tho Press," ranging from 18(5-1 to 1875. Only five volumes of the Canterbury "Standard" remain, from 18(5-1 to 1806. Tlie other papers include five volumes of tho "West Coast Times" (18(54 to 1866); fiix of the "Grey River Argus" (lfi(io--1867); ten of the "Timaru Herald" (1866-76); four of tho "South Canterbury Times'' (1873-76). There arc twelve copies of calendars, and seven reports to the directors of the Now Zealand Company, from 1843 to 1848. The catalogues of the books in the libraries of the Mechanics' Institute, Provincial Council, and Polico Department, Christchurch, aro also interesting. Among tho niisoellaneoits papers are the first annual report of tho Chamber of Commerce (.1860), annual reports ot tho Acclimatisation Society (1866-1874), and Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (1866-1869); meteorological observations (1865-67); report of tho Canterbury Museum (1871); papers relativo to tho establishment of the San Francisco service (1873); report of a oomnutteo on the establishment of new industries; ami alphabetical militia list of the Chrdstchurch district (1860----61).