UPPER RICCARTON LIBRARY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16473, 17 March 1919, Page 3

UPPER RICCARTON LIBRARY.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID

The foundation stono of the Upper liiccarton Memorial Library was laid on Saturday afternoon, in the presenco of a fair attendance, by Lady Bowen. The building, which is on a site in liiccarton road, facing Hanson's lane, will be of brick, and will tako the plaeo of the old library in Hanson's lane. In one of the looms will be placed a marble slab chronicling the names of the Eiccarton lads who served in the war.

Mr T. 0. Xownham. who presided in the absence of Mr Geo. Forsyth, who was ill. said tho building was being erected in memory of those liiccarton hoys who had fallen in the war. Sir Charles Bowen had givon tho lirst sit© for a library in liiccarton many years before, and it was only fitting that Latlv Bowen should lay the foundation stone of the new buikfing that day; Lady Bowen, in laying the foundation stone, expressed her pleasure at being able to do so. Sho supposed she was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, inhabitant of liiccarton. It had beon hor home for nearly fiftyseven years. For many years she had passed along Hanson's lane, and seen the library deserted and falling rapidly into decay. She had wondered whether the library was appreciated in Tiiecarton, and whether -the younger generation went instead into the city for other pleasures. Things had changed however, during the past four years; the war had given a wider outlook. things which were not interesting in former times wero now creating greater interest. Sho hoped there would bo books in the library to tell of the historic places, of such conntrios as France, Italy, Egyr>t, and Palestine, and that tlicre would bo many hooks of travel. The daily papers were not always instructive reading, but must bo road to show them what was going on, to tell them what was happening locally, and also in the great world outside thom. She thought, tho committee deserved great crodit for all that tliov had done. She would take a great interest in the library, which she hoped would be of benefit to the residents of tho district.

Mr G. Witty, M.P., said it was .1 great pleasure to hn-vo Lady Bowen speaking as one of tho oldest residents in tho district, more particularly as Charles Bowen had given the site for tho first library, and Sir Charles Bowen had not only raven the site, but bad done more for education than anyone elso in New Zealand.

Dr. Thacker, M.P., congratulated Riecarton upon beine practically the first district 1 in tho to*erect an educational institution as a war memorial. -ire wanted to see a public bath and social room connected with it: iii fact, a block of institutions in Riccarton. He "wanted to present j;lie first book to tho library, tho "greatest of all books, a Bible.

The chairman said tbf W:\irnniri Con 11 tv Council had given £100 towards the library. The committor had. so fnr, collected a little oror £400. What thov wanted was in tho vicinitv of £"00.

JVTr £?. -A. Staples. chairmnn of tho "Wnimairi County Council, naid ft tribute to Mr Hanson's generosity in oxthe si to of the new buildirg fo* +he site of the old.

Tho Revs. TT. T. V o rJr and W. T. Horner, and Mr J. E. Hanson, also spoke.