A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR WELLINGTON.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 372, 19 March 1879, Page 2

A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR WELLINGTON.

? A number of gentlemen have presented a petition to the Mayor, asking bim to convene a meeting of ratepayers "for the purpose of taking into consideration a scheme for the establishment of a Free Public Library, in terms of the ' Public; Libraries Act, 1869/ and tbe 'Public Libraries Subsidies Act, 1877.'" Under these Acts the ratepayers have the power of deciding, by a poll, whether a library shall be established, and a rate not exceeding one penny in ' the pound may be imposed. An amount equal to that raised by the rate is given as a subsidy by tbe Government. Same years ago Councillor Gbobgb moved in the direction of establishing a free public library under the Acts then existing, and the City Council submitted the question to the ratepayers, when the proposal was rejected by a large majority. Subsequently the question wai again brought forward in the Council, but it was then felt that the ratepayers had so recently pronounced a decided opinion upon a similar proposal that it would be useless again to submit the proposition to them. Time, however, works changes in the opinions of men and of communities, and we hope that the City Council will not now consider that further action is barred by a vote taken some years ago, when tho town was much smaller and less important than it is at the present time. There is already in existence the nucleus of a large library, though the books are now rusting and rotting on their shelves for want of use. We refer to the Provincial Library. If a free public library were established there is little doubt of the willingness of the Government to hand over this library to the city— indeed, Sir George Grey has more than once indicated that the Government would be prepared to take such action. With this as a foundation, we might havo in Wellingt 'D, within a very few years, a public library worthy of the capital city of the colony. A vote of one penny in the £1 would, under the present assessment of the town, produce £1000, and another £1000 could then be claimed from the Government. Other colonial towns, seeing that the system of subsidies is not likely to last for more than a few years longer, ar& taking advantage of tho present facilities to provide large libraries of good standard works. Surely it is not now necessary to speak of the value of libraries, and especially when free, as educational auxiliaries. Their value is admitted by all laying claim to any degree of enlightenment, and the fear of a small rate, such as is allowed by the Act, is no valid excuse for rejecting a proposal to establish a free library here. Even little Oamaru and lesser Tuapeka are ahead of Wellington in this respect, and have their public libraries. Every year of apathy on the part of Wellington will place us in a worse comparative position, and will make it more difficult ultimately to secure a library such as the capital of New Zealand should boast. Strangers coming to the town often express astonishment at the supineness and lethargy of our citizens in this matter, and the sooner the reproach is removed from our city the better.

" Citizen " will see by an advertisement in another column that forms of registration may be obtained at the office of tbe Evening Post. Thoy should ba tilled up and sent to tbe Registration Officer, Mr. E. Bakor, Resident Magistrate's Court. We regret to hoar it announced that Councillor Greenfield intends to resign, in consequence of tho late and pending local proceedings against him for receiving honorarium as a member of the Wharf Committee We hope Councillor Greenfield will do nothing of the kind, but tbat he will continue to do bis duty to his constituents in tbe future as in tho past. While we often have had occasion to differ from him, we always recognised the honesty of his intentions, and it is only to be deplored that Councillors generally did not act in the advice we offered them some we3k ago, when this point first was mooted — to abstain from contesting such a question at all — it being clearly contrary to the spirit of the law, however its letter might bo interpreted, that a City Councillor should receive payment for his public services, under whatever thin veil of euphemism it might be designed. Let us hope that all the Councillors evon now will see the force of our reasoning, and abstain from any longer drawing this very improper remuneration for their public services. Further information is conveyed in our cable messages to-day respectiug the great disaster in Hungary, a brief account of which was telegraphed from Pesth a faw days ago It appears tbat Szegedim, a town situated at the confluence of the groat rivers Theiss and M?ros3, 90 miles S E. from Pestb, has been flooded. An appalling loss of life occurred, nd fewer than 2000 persons being killed, whilst thousands of others were rendered homeless An orphanage was laid in ruins, burying all its inmates, and altogether the disaster appears to have been attended with widespread devastation, and an almost unprecedented loss of human life. Szegedim is defended by a fortress, and is one of the most busy commorcial towns of Hungary. It has a large market place, several churches, convents, and schools, a town hospital, and a theatre. At the last census it had a population of upwards of 50,000. The treasurer of the Kaitangata Relief Fund has as yet received no further suras from the different churches as the result of the collections made last Sunday. It has been stated tbat £100 was collected, but the amount received is only about £33. A sitting of the Supreme Court in Banco was held this morning before the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Richmond. The Napier case of Albert v. Russell was referred back to the Resident Magistrate, whose decision was appealed from, for additional facts to be stated. The suit of Smith v. Gilmer was dismissed for want of prosecution. The case of Wellington City Corporation v. Port again came before the Court on a motion for decree. Mr. Travers appeared ibr the plaintiff, and Mr. Ollivior and Mr. Chapman for tho defendant. The case, it may be remembered, arose out of the Corporation having demised to tha defendant three sections in the town belt reserves under one lease, instead of under three separate leases, and the defendant afterwards repudiated the contract on that ground. Judgment reserved. It seems that, after all, the purchase by the Education Board from Mr. Toxward of a school site in Svdnsy-street is likely to fall through. The Board disdaining, as is its usual practice, to look into or be guided by the Education Act, of course did not notice that they had power, according to the Act, to purchase only on the recommendation of the Local Committee. But the committee in this instance set their faces against the purchase, for good and sufficient grounds, and when the Board refused to listen to reason the Committee were obliged to appeal to the Minister of Education. Mr. Ballance, as everyone except the members of the Board expected, has decided in favor of the view held by the committee. Now, we suppose, the Board will try to wriggle out of thefr difficulty in another way. It is to be hoped that the Board will not think it necessary to go to tho Supreme Court about it, and lose another £600 in costs. It should be remembered that the Hon. Mr. Gisborne and the two Messrs. Pharazyn stood alone in their opposition to this purchase when it was before the Board. If Mr. Hutchison, who now takes credit to himself for subsequently protesting against it, had been in his place at the Board on tbat occasion, tbe proposal would have been negatived by the casting vote of the chairman, who gave his deliberate vote against it. A meeting will be held at the Athenaeum this evening under the presidency of his Worship the Mayor, to make arrangements for the reception of Sir Hercules Robinson. It is hoped tbat there will be a large attendance. A draft programme, and tbe draft of an address for presentation to his Excellency on landing, will be submitted to the meeting for consideration. Sir Hercules leaves Sydney to-day, and is expected to reach here on Tuesday next, so that there is little time to be lost in making the necessary arrangements if Sir Hercules is to be received in a manner worthy of the city. The additional engine ordered by the Railway Department to be sent round from Napier to supplement tho inadequate locomotive power on the Wellington and Featherston line has arrived, and is being put in order at Petoni. One of the D class (Neilson's six-wheeled fourcoupled, leading Bissel-bogie, 9£ cylinders, driving and trailing wheels 3ft. diameter) has been sent instead of one of the C class as first intended. Six additional engines are expected from Home shortly to meet the necessary requirements of the rapidly growing traffic. The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Wellington Land and Building Company (Limited) was held in the Board room of the company yesterday afternoon. In their report the directors stated that they had the satisfaction to show that after the payment of the dividend and the allotment of further shares, out of the assets of the company as proposed by them at the last annual meeting, there remained a balance of £870 14s Id to the credit of profit and loss. Mr E. W. Mills was re-elected a director, and Mr. T. W. M'Kenzie was elected in the place of the other retiring director (Mr. F. A. Krull). Mr. Kebbell was re-elected auditor. A dividend of 8 per cent, was declared, and the sum of fifty guineas voted as directors' honorarium. The chairman complimented the secretary on the able manner in which he conducted the business of the company, and the proceedings then closed. Mr. Wakelin, of Greytown, has accepted three months' salary instead of notice, and this has got over tbe difficulty with the Education Board. The Rev. T. Porritt will enter upon bi* duties as Mr. Wakelia's successor next week. The annual congregational soiree of the

Lower Hutt Presbyterian Church was beld on Monday. A substantial tea, provided by the ladies hi the congregation, was served in a large tent in the Manse paddock, after which a meeting was held in the church, Mr. Grant presiding. The chairman stated that the congregation was in a state of spiritual and financial prosperity. Mr. Bruce, in the name of the members of the congregation, presented to the Rev. John Moir, the former pastor, an eleeent marble time-piece, in token of their appreciation of his indefatigable labors among them. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. Mes«rs Paterson, Ogg, Moir, Bourge, Thomas, and Harrington, and Messrs. Hopkirk and Milne. Recitations were given by several of the children attending the Sabbath school, and were much appreciated, as were also the sacred songs and solos rendered by Miss Milne, Rev. Mr. Bourge, and Mr..M'llvride. Settling on the late Wanganui races took place on Monday evening. The following amounts were paid away : —Mr. Vallance, £410; Mr. Day, £100; Mr. Gibson, £100: Mr. Heaton, £60; Mr. Walker, £60; Mr. Dune, £30; Mr. M'lvor, £86 13s; Mr. Walters, £63 2s; Mr. Rogers, £30; Mr. George, £5 os; Mr. Newland, £7; Mr. Morso, £3 3s; Mr. Keith, £5 ss; Mr. Higgie, £3 3s. Total, £953 11s. A somewhat alarming accident occurred near the tramway terminus last evening. Mr. Watts, son of Dr. Watts, was riding along the road when his horse took fright at a tramway engine which was leaving the shed, and, rearing, fell backwards into a drain in the road Fortunately Mr. Watts managed to avoid being crushed by the weight of the animal, but both he and the horse were very much shaken and bruised. A meeting of the Benevolent Institution was held yesterday. Several cases of distress were considered and relieved. It was stated that money was greatly needed, but that subscriptions were coming in very slowly. The meeting of the Public Works Committee ot the City Council, called for yesterday, lapsed for want of a quorum. There will bean entire change of programme at the Georgias' entertainment at the Imperial Opera House to-night. To-morrow will be the last appearance of the troupe. Mr B. Cohen has presented a cheque for £5, to be equally divided between tho two Fire Brigades, in recognition of their services at tbe late fire on his premises. The Brigades desire to acknowledge this donation. The shareholders in the D'Urville Island copper mine are requested to meet at the Panama Chambers, Panama-street, at 7.30 o'clock this evening, when bu-incss of importance will ba brought forward. The Perseverance Tent, 1,0 8,, held its quarterly meeting in the Primitive Methodist j Schoolroom, Sydney-street, last evening, there being a large attendance of members. The members' roll was called, which showed that an increase had been made during the past quarter. It was gratifying to the members to hear that not a single member was on the sick list. A letter was read which had been received from Bro. Fraser, the District Secretary, in answer to one which had been sent to the D.C., asking what steps should be taken to aid the Kaitangata Relief Fund. The D.S. recommended that every member should be asked to subscribe. The election of a representative to the District Council was in favor of Bro. Parsonage, who had served in the same capacity for tbe past year, and whose services were acknowledged by a hearty vote of thanks. The business before tho City Council tomorrow evening includes the appointment of a Charitable Aid Committee; tho consideration of the resolutions relative to the drainage passed by Mr. Climie's friends at the meeting at the Athenaeum; notice of intention to strike a general and water rate for the ensuing year, &c Thero will afterwards be a special moeting to consider the city by-laws. With reference to the failure of the City of Glasgow Bank, the following extract from a private letter, received by the San Francisco mail on Saturday, may not be without interest:—"Oneof tha defaulting bank managers —the one who was so religious that he would not read the newspapers ou Monday because they wore printed on Sunday — somo time before the failure of the Bank caused to be made a strong box, lined with metal and bound with iron bands, which was filled with something ' as heavy as lead/ and this was put on board ship and consigned to one of his friends in New Zealand. This treasure (?) weighed some three or four hundredweight. He is now being tried for fraud; but I have not heard if the box has been • arrested,' or whether it got where its 'owner' intended to go when all got clear." A sensational story of love, devotion, and attempted murder Comes from Sydney. It appears that a few weeks ago a dark, handsiine girl, who gave the name of Mrs Roberts, took apartments in Raglan-street, Waterloo. A gentleman who passed as her husband joined her. They had not been occupying the house long when it was noticed that a Mr. Kelly sometimes visited them, and his visits were generally attended with high words. One Monday, after the usual altercation, Kelly produced a double-barrelled pistol, and aimed it at Roberts. Mrs. Roberts flung herseli between the two men, and received the charge in her shoulder. Examination by a doctor disclosed tbe fact that the pistol was loaded with corn—not shot, and the devoted girl was not seriously injured A preliminary examination in the Police Court revealed the fact that the handsome Mrs. Roberts was a barmaid, her real name being Mary Seymour. She is said to be well-educated, and very respectably connected The real name of Roberts is Walter H. Cooper, and he has a wife and six children. The wife is said to be also dark and very handsome. He deserted her at Manly, when she took up her abode with her mother. Kelly was a brother of Mrs. Cooper, and as he could not induce her husband to leave Mi«s Seymour, he determined to be revenged. Kelly seems to be possessed of a grim sort of humor, for after firing at Cooper hQ explained that he "only wanted to corn his (Cooper's) beef," and that was the reason he did not put shot into the pistol. For the convenience of those who wish to visit the Island Bay estate, an omnibus will leave the Empire Hotel four times daily, for one week prior to the day of sale. Some friends of Mrs. Luhning, tobacconist, have circulated a curious business card. It is printed with a deep mourning border, and contains the following juotatioa from " Poor Miss Finch ":— " When Gott made the Womens, ho was sorry afterwards for the poor M>ns, and he made Tobaccos to comfort them*" It is proverbial that in amateur theatrical performances the curtain invariably refuses, at the most embarrassing moment, either to go up or come dowa. Even professionals, however, are not always free from accidents of this kind. A similar mishap occurred on Monday to the Combination Troupe at the Odd Fellows' Hall, Wanganui, and the company had to content themselves with singing Irish songs on the small space in front of the curtain. Some warm scenes between Bench and Bar occur at Dunedin occasionally. Recently the Resident Magistrate had occasion to remark that the " impulsive" conduct of one of the counsel (Mr. Dennis ton) had been the means of prolonging the case. To this Mr. Denniston is reported to have said: —" Your Worship knows I cannot retort as I should like; and your Worship knows you can sit there and insult me. My mouth is closed, and your Worship can insult me as you please. I know the retort I should make in another place, and I j regret I cannot make it here." After this it is evident that Wellington cannot claim a I monopoly of "impulsive" gentlemen of the long robe. j