GIFTS TO THE CITY

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 74, 29 March 1922, Page 8

GIFTS TO THE CITY

VALUABLE BOOKS AND PAPEBS

FO^ THE LIBRAEY.

The Wellington Public Library is richer by reason of two splendid gifts just received —one from Mr. A. li. Atkinson and the other from Mr. T. F. Grey, of Auckland, formerly of Wellington. Mr. Atkinson's gift comprises a highly valuable collection of papers from the library of his father. These include a complete volume (Jan., 1849, to May, 1864) of the Maori Messenger or Ko To Kaurere, an Auckland publication printed in Maori and English in parallel columns. There is an amazing amount of information, which would be of extreme value to historians and to people interested in' the conditions ruling in the early days, of settlement. There are also odd copies, dated 1859 to 1861, of Te Haeata ■ (Dawn of Day), a Maori magazine which was published in the interests of it-he Wesley Methodist, religion, besides Bibles, Testaments, and South . Sea Island publications of great philological, value. ■ The collection presented by Mr. Grey is valuable for the number of rare volumes, the value of which was insignificant when--first they were published. Some of the pamphlets, for instance, written by statesmen of other day 3, will be studied with interest. One ancient copy of the Journal of the Royal Institution contains a short but remarkable article on the preservation of heads by the Natives of New Zealand, aqd some notes on cannibalism. A scrapbook contains some old documents and vouchers of Auckland's Provincial Government days, including a Police Department paysheet for the year 1860, all of which were picked up in the street by Mr. Grey when the old University buildings were demolished. Ths Thames Miuers" Guide, with a map of the claims, and dated 1868, is also of interest. One little book is entitled "The Life and Times of Putuone " (by the late Mr. C: O.Davis), and the first English and New Zealand edition ol "Old New' Zealand," by "A Maori Pakeha" (Judge Manning), are also included.

Altogether about 300 items are included in the gifts, and to-morrow night the donors will be thanked by the City Council for their generous presentations.