KAIAPOI CORONATION LIBRARY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14237, 28 December 1911, Page 2

KAIAPOI CORONATION LIBRARY.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID

Tho Coronation of their Majesties 13 to be commemorated in Kaiapoi by the erection and equipment of a public library The way was prepared to a considerable extent by a very handsome gift to the town by the members of the Kaiapoi Mechanics' Institute, who nresented their library and some property to the public. The Borough CoXil with this gift and The promise of the Government Coronation subsidy of £250, proceeded to give effect to the demand for a public library. A new fire brigade station was wanted, and it vas decided to have tho library and tho station erected simultaneously on a adjoining the Borough C*™* Chambers. Contract were let. for tho two buildings, and yesterday the» Hon. D. Buddo, Minister for Internal Affairs laid the foundation stone of the library builder is Mr A. teartt.

ture will bo of brick. Tho ceremony took place at 3 p.m. yesterday, when there was a. row tair Sundance of townspeople. Mayor (\lr Wvlie) presided, and opened tge with a brief address He said that the ceremony marked an other step forward in Kaiapoi He con tended that Ivaiapoi "woko up abou* four years ago. wfien the town m for a loan for kerbmg and ch«mndlin- That work had been a decided to the residents. Later on there was a loan for the acetylene gasworks, and that venture had also been a success. Tho new library, ho was sure, would bo a means of recreation fpr old and young. Tho Ihanks of the town were duo to the trustees and members of the Kaiapoi Mechanics Institute for their very generous gift of •their library and tho property at present occupied by tho Record office. This had enabled tho town to go on with the desirable work which was being initiated. Tho cost of the library to the town would be very small, as tho Govornment grant of £250 for tho Coronation memorial had been promised. The 'Mayor concluded by advising residence to boom their town as much as possible, and not to decry it by describing it to their outside friends as a "sleepy hollow." Ho hoped to see the day when Kaiapoi would be second to no town in "ihe Dominion. (Laughter and applause.) A short speech was made by Cr. Revell. chairman of the Works Committeo of tho Borough Council. He gave a few particulars as to the amount of space which tho library would afford for books, and remarked •that it would bo adequate for all that Kaiapoi would be likely to require for somo years to come. He also referred appreciatively to the gift mado by tho Mechanics' Institute.

The Hon. Mr Buddo, who was re- ] ceived -with applause, said that an up- ] to-date library was an excellent educational medium for young New Zealanders, and tho provision of such an I institution was a very proper func- , tion for the Borough Council to discharge. It was also proper that sub- ' sidies should b© given for the prevision ' of libraries. He was not sure whether , a provincial subsidy was given for the ' Kaiapoi Institute, but one was given for the Literary Institute in Rangiora. The last word had not been spoken as far as library subsidies were concerned, and he did not think that thero were many more useful ways in which the Government could assist municipalities. Libraries were essentially educational institutions, and while young people enjoyed the advantages of the public school course,

a good library could be the means of assisting them very materially. He W3vS glad to sco that the library was in the centre of the town, and was to be in the block in which tie municipal buildings were situated. A very practical design had been adopted, and ho hoped that the new building would be an ornament to its surroundings, and useful to tho town. Ho suggested that as the history of Kaiapoi was not yet written, there was an opportunity for some of tho older members of tho

community to bring out ■ a book en "Old Kaiapoi," or even "Old Mandeville," covering the district as -widely as possible. The district was settled quite contemporaneously with that of Christchurch, and thoro must be many historical records in the homes of tho old settlers which might bo deposited in the new library. Young people wero taking the places of the old ones, and they might not set proper value on the old historical prints and pamphlets, and other things which had their day in the past. These might bo collected, and added to the treasure store of the library. The Minister expressed the hope that the residents who had leisure time, on their hands should take an interest in the selections of books for the library. A Selection Committee, which would ensure the library getting the best novels and other publications, would confer a very real benefit on th<* general readers. In conclusion ho wished the library every success, and said that tho (residents wero doing something which would place future generations under a very deep obligation to them. (Applause.) The Mayor, on behalf of the' Borough Council and citizens, presented tho Minister with a silver trowel, as a memento of tho occasion. Mr Buddo then laid the stone, having previously placed under it copies of tho newspapers, and a golden coin of the realm. Cheers were given for> tho members of the Mechanics' Institute, tho Minister, the Mayor, and tho new library.