The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1888.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5166, 10 March 1888, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1888.

What is the cause of our local Athenieuin always being in a bad way financially ? It is not alone in that respect, for tho kindred institution in Wellington has always been in a similar state, but why a local library should not bo properly supported by those who use it is difficult for an outsider to understand. When it was proposed some years ago to enlarge the local Athciircum a very rose-colored statement was* submitted, and it was expected that in future money difficulties would' for over disappear. Tho pleasing prospect has not been realised. In tho first place the extensive alterations mado cost a good deal more than the estimate, the revenue from letting a portion of the building, and tho receipts for the use of the hall, have both been considerably under what was anticipated, and last year an appeal was mado to the Borough Council for aid, with the result that a gratuity of £50 was voted. The vote led to considerable, correspondence with the Audit Department, which will probably result in the Council boing ver\- chary of repeating the experiment, though tho other night there was a demand for £100. Why the; institution has never been popular with the public is difficult to define, ljut the lack of sufficient members to make it self-sup-porting is a proof that it is not so. The free reading-room has proved a boon to many, but that cannot be very costly to the body corporate, for most if not all of tho newspapers to be found there, are supplied gratuitously. Are there no faults in tho management to account for the lack of support 'i We aro afraid that if we searched down to the root of the matter, and enquired carefully why tho Atherueum does not command popular support, we should find that thei-e is much room for improvement in the internal management of the institution. Of course iv saving that we are not for a moment reflecting on the librarian, for every one admits that ho is tho right man in the right place, but there i.s a want of accord between tho committee and the subscribers. For years tho institution wits not rim on popular lines, and once let an establishment of tho kind lose its hold on the public and its usefulness is gono for ever. During the last year or two attempt* hay; been made to popularise the Athenieuin, but these efforts have not crowned with success, principally, we think, owing to the defective management. In a place like Napier, where there aro no other public libraries, an institution of the kind, if well managed, should bo well supported, and if it have not that necessary support, then all wo can say is let the ruling body set to work to find out tho cause. If that be dono we aro convinced that the fault will bo found to be with the way tho institution has been run in the past.