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NEW LIBRARY AT TAI TAPU.

GIFT OF SIR HEATON RHODES. OPENING BY GOVERNORGENERAL. Yet another gift to the people of the Tai Tapu district has been made by the Hon. Sir Heaton Khodes. It is in. the form of a public library, and the building was yesterday formally opened by the Governor-General, Lord Blcdisloe, in the presence of about 800 people. Their Excellencies and party were greeted by school-children, and of primary interest to them, in his Excellency's preliminary remarks, was a request to the authorities for a holidayin commemoration of the visit. The Vice-Regal party was met by a guard of honour and Mr J. Gilmour, chairman of the Library Committee. Mrs Gilmour presented a bouquet to Lady Bledisloe and Mrs C. M. Suckling and Mrs J. Ryan presented buttonholes to his Excellency and to Sir Heaton Rhodes. A Memorable Occasion. Mr Gilmour expressed pleasure at the large gathering, and stated that the occasion was a memorable one, for the reason that it was the first visit of their Excellencies to Tai Tapu. The gathering, he said, was called to open a new and beautiful building, the gift of Sir Heaton Rhodes, to whom the thanks of the district were due for several valuable architectural additions. The library bad come into being through the instrumentality of the daffodil. The bulbs from "Otahuna" had been sold to make the building of the library possible. The early pioneers had erected a building on the main Akaroa road and it had served its purpose well, but the opportunity had come for the erection of a new library and the residents of the district were proud in the knowledge that they were now taking up their new residence.

Early Experiments. Sir Heaton Rhodes traced the history of the library movement iu Tai.Tapu, referring to the efforts of Mr Robert Raiuey and Mr Coop, of Little River, and stated that it was the first occasion on which the representatives of the King had visited the district. "To my old gardener, the late Mr A. E. Lowe, my thoughts fly back to-day," he said. "I have seen the daffodils of tho Old Country and, some years ago, I thought that I would like to grow them in my own Home. Mr Lowe came to me in 1895, and his hybridisation work was remarkable. To him I owe the flowers we have to-day. Later I took up the more serious work of politics, but I owe it to the genius of Mr Lowo that this library can be opened, and his name will be perpetuated in its walls.'' "A Warm Welcome." "Let mo thank you for the peculiarly warm and friendly welcome you have given to Lady Bledisloe and myself to-day," said his Excellency. "I find it difficult to believe that 1 am not in my own village in Gloucester. You people in Tai Tapu (of the sacred stream) are as healthy, happy, and good-looking as the people of the West Country," continued his Excellency. "I see, on this platform, as near an example of the good old country squire as I have ever met in New Zealand— I mean Sir Heaton Rhodes. (Applause.) He. breeds good stock, has a lovely home, and raises good flowerß. (Apparently he spends his leisure thinking out moans whereby he can do good to his fellow-men—tho people among whom ho lives.

"To be quite candid, I have never before heard of the flowers of the field being converted into the flowers of literature, and I think it is a most delightful idea, and it is a testimony to the skill of Mr Lowe, whose fame has extended, far overseas. His genius has resulted in a building which is a fine ornament to the district and a credit to Mr Cecil Wood, the architect—a man for whom I have developed the greatest respect after seeing the Memorial Hall at Christ's College, which *s the most beautiful memorial building I have had the pleasure of gazing upon since the end of the War. To tho contractor and the mason I extend my congratulations. The pioneers came to "New Zealand with the Bible in one hand and courage in tho other, and their virtues are most worthy of perpetuation. Well, then, I am here formally to open this library. Let mo say that there is a higher average standard of education in New Zealand than in any other part of the British Empire.

Headers' Tastes. "There is here a great scope for producing men of the type of the great Lord Rutherford, the world's foremost scientist, and we desire to see them nurtured. To this end we can do no better than provide a good library to stiit the tastes of the varying readers. It is better to be a book-worm than a person book-starved. We have visited several relief camps whero the men are book-starved. They have good food and smokes, but in one place they told us that all they had in reading matter was a few American papers and one Edgar Wallace novel. They were hoping to receive something of an uplifting nature. We did our best and sent out a few books, in the hope that others would be induced to do the same. What we are all striving for is the element of spirituality' and culture, and it is of little use to concentrate on one type of book only. I have been pleased generally with the type of book read by the young men and women of New Zealand, but I hope that all parents will see that the frothy modern fiction will not displace the good old books. High Ideals. "There is a call for all of us to strengthen our character and aim at high ideals. England*and New Zealand suffer from insularity, and they must develop a wider outlook," said the Governor-General. "I venture to hope that works of topography will be found among the collection. I bring a small gift, of that description, and I understand that another little parcel will come from another source. Indeed, the books that she will provide will, I may say, be of an elevating character. I have the greatest pleasure in declare ing this building open, and Phope that it.will provide happiness, restfulness, contentment, and wisdom for many generations to come."

Mr H. S. 8. Kyle, MP., said that the people of the district were delighted at the presence of their Excellencies. He congratulated the district, upon the gifts of the Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes, and called for three cheers for their Excellencies and the giver of the library. The building was designed by Mr Cecil Wood: the contractor was Mr N. T. Webb, and the masonry work was done by Mr L. Wendelborn. The main room is 28ft by 20ft and the committee room 14ft by 12ft 6in, with a smaller room attached. The building Is made of stone quarried from the propertv of Sir Heaton Tthodcs. and the roof is tiled. It conforms in symmetry and type with the church recently given to the district by Sir Heaton Bhodes.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19320813.2.99

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 13 August 1932, Page 16

Word Count
1,183

NEW LIBRARY AT TAI TAPU. Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 13 August 1932, Page 16

NEW LIBRARY AT TAI TAPU. Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 13 August 1932, Page 16