LINCOLN CORONATION LIBRARY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14238, 29 December 1911, Page 4

LINCOLN CORONATION LIBRARY.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID,

Tho foundation stone of tho Coronation Library building at Lincoln was officially by Mr R. Hcaton Rhodes, M.P. yesterday afternoon in tho prc_ence of a large gathering of local residents. '*.„„' The building, which is to be erected in hard wood, with a tiled roof, is prettily situated on a corner of the Domain Reserve, near the bridge, and on tho bank of tho little stream which babbles through tho township. "When finishea it will have quite an attractive appearTlio Rev. T. Jasper Smythe, chairman of the Coronation Library Committee, before calling on Mr Rhodes to lay tho stone, said the movement was token up rather late, but the moment it was put. in hand it received very enthusiastic support. A committee was appointed and application was made to tho Government for the Coronation subsidy. A reply was received that tho application would have to bt> made by eomo loca] authority, and the matter was then put in tho hands ot the Springs Koad Board, but by tho time tho Board met the application was a fortnight late, and the subsidy was rejfu&sd for that reason. However, when Mr Rhodes returned from England he approached the . Hon. Mr Buddo. explained tho circumstances to him, and the Minister agreed to extend tho time providetUho foundation stone was laid beforo tho end of tho year. Tho present library was built thirtyiivo years ago, and was now too small for the requirements of tho districtMr Heaton Rhodes said that Mr Buddo personally was from tho first willing to grant the suosidy, but he felt ho could not overrido the conditions laid down without cause, for it would create a precedent which would be taken advantage of by other localities where late applications were received. However, when it was shown to him that the first application, that from tlie Library Committee, was in within the timo allowed, he agreed to grant tho subsidy, and the amount of £100 was consequently .availablo from the Government. Mr Rhodes then referred briefly to tho Coronation ceremonies and celebrations at Homo and in India. Ho did not tliink that the people of Lincoln could have decided on a more fitting memorial of the Coronation , than a library. There would always bo a demand for books, and as Jong as that demand existed, libraries would be wanted. There was already the nucleus of tho library in the old building, but no doubt valuable additions would bo made from timo to timo as funds allowed. Ho looked forward to tho time when Lincoln would be a big town, and when tho present library building would bo replaced by a larger and more elaborate structure in keeping with tho importance of the centre. Tho present sito was a most admirable one, and he congratulated the people of Lincoln very heartily oh the successful outcome of their energy and enterprise in getting the new building. Mr Smythe then announced that the building was to cost £103, and £50 additional would bo required for internal fittings. The building, as far as tho committee were concerned, was to have" an iron roof, and the contract prico, provided only for. that typo of roof, but Mr Rhodes had since offered to have a tiled roof placed on the building at his own expense, and their very sincere thanks were due to Mr Rhodes for his generous offer. He might mention that Mr Rhodes had already given a donation to the funds, and the offer of the roof was in addition to that. Tho contractor, MrForbes, had ■■ undertaken to have the building finished by the end of February. ' - Mr Rhodes then laid the foundation stone, and wished tho library succeed j until Lincoln demanded a bigger buildii i«Kr \ IP Mr R. "Vv. Lochhead. on behalf of the Coronation Library Committee, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Rhodes for the generous assistance he p had given the enterprise. Mr Ilhodea, 0 he said, was always willing.to lend a' f helping-hand to any project that might * be established, and v district like Elr lesinerc was fortunate in having Mr s Rhodes as a resident, and especially as r a member. s On the motion of Mr Geo. Ronnie, a 0 hearty vote of thanks was accorded the c indies wbo provided afternoon tea dis!J pensed at the close of the ceremony, and tho gathering broke up witli the singing of the National Anthem and tho giving of three ringing cheers for o Mr and Mrs Rhodes-