ABOUT BOOKS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1703, 20 March 1913, Page 6

ABOUT BOOKS.

SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, March, lfl. An interesting address, indicating the most valuable form of literature which should be placed in our I'braries, was given by his Excellency the Governor (the Earl of Liverpool) when formally declaring the Grafton branch library open to public. * "Most of us," he said, "remember having seen at one period or another somewhat.doleful volumes with which it was considered many years ago necessary to legale the hours of childhood. We have altered all that, and it is 110 longer considered necessary to instal musty, dusty, and fusty * ideas into our young folks' minds. (Laughter fnd applause.) But while I say this T. do not wish to leave the impression that it is only lieccssary to occupy our time with tho lightest of literature. Personally I miss my library with all my books of reference, and what wo all want to place to memory are books which recount the history of our own country, and show tho methods of transition which havo led to the conditions of life as .we find them to-day. "Let mo amplify this," continued tho Governor. "The works which are. required, and which will find' a place here, are books written in the Jjest form of English, and written in nil interesting and lucid, style. Books like the English men of action and statesmen, series which will help us to elucidate the iroblem; which engross our attention to-day. Such books do us all good ami set us. thinking that tin more we can further these princinles the better it js for everyone. Again this Library will, I hope, bring together many of those who in ■ winter cannot pursue their outdoor games.

"Olio other point." he continued. "F hope there will be found places for books of reference regarding tho natural products of the Dominion, bolh agricultural, pastoral, and botanical. (Applause.) Thp last-mentioned is especially needful. Let it not be forgotten that there are manv features.of these islands which from necessity are fast vanishing, and which cannot be Tenlaced in either our generation or generations in the immediate future. Soon you will have a burning- nuestion, the problem of afforestation. I am quite aware of tho necessity of clearing, but I 1 wish means could have been devised to nut our .timber, which gets burnt, to bolter use, and also by which some at all events of .our indigenous trees were not ruthlessly destroyed. (Applause.) I am told there has often been found small portions which might havo been soared, and which might have been kept both for shade and screen .against tho wind. Of course you have no wind in Auckland. (Laughter.) . "The same argum»nts apply enually to tht bird life of the Dominion. These ar* some of the many questions which afford food for research and thought, and which vitally affect the inhabitants of New Zealand."