THE ATHENÆUM.

Evening Star, Issue 4942, 4 January 1879, Page 3

THE ATHENÆUM.

TO THE EDITOK, Sib, —A Mr Lalor has written to one of your contemporaries, criticising most unfairly both the Athenaeum Committee (which he declares to be inoompetent) and the new librarian. Were it not that I am boiling over with rage I would answer this attaok in the pages it appeared in; but it is important that such gross mis-state-ments should not long remain uncontradicted, and should be grappled with at once. This gentleman has thrown the apple of discord into our hitherto peaceful Athenaeum, and I certainly think, to take the mildest view of the matter, that it was extremely bad taste to object to any minor defects in the working of the Institution, which much older members were quite content to put up with. I for one am perfectly pleased and contented with our present committee and the actual management of the Athenaeum. I know several very old members who, certainly within my knowledge, have never displayed the least dissatisfaction concerning the administration of the Institution It is my opinion, and the opinion of many others, that the motives of such letters as the one in question, are simply the efforts of a clique who have failed in getting their own man into the librarian's billet, and are now actuated by motives of petty revenge and malice. Of course they would like to "oust" the present librarian, und the consequence is they are down on everything—even the minutest little details. The new librarian is quite fresn to his post as yet; it is treating him very badly and shamefully ; he has not had time, as yet, to show any good qualities he may possess ; we have not had time to juflsfe of his capabilities for the post. If I were iu iho librarian's place I would certainly resign sooner than be badgered and worried by such perpetual criticisms. Though 1 certainly consider that there ought to be laws about fines, I, Mr Editor, could never afford to pay both my subscription and fines at the same time fc some trifling fault, and be hauled over the coals as well I think it would be wiser in such gentlemen as Mr Lalor and Mr Howlett, and other people who are trying to bring our Athenaeum into bad fame, to "let sleeping dogs lie." I am a conservative, Mr Editor, and don't believe in theorists who say one thingandmeananoth.tr. TheDunedin Athenaeum numbers considerably over 1,000 subscribers of all classes, having tastes widely different. Now, my idea of an Athensßum is a multum in parvo —that is to say, a little of everything. Mr Lalor aays again that it ought to be the duty of the members to procure the books they require themselves from the shelves by means of a catalogue. Now allow me to say that this ought to be the librarian's duty, and that in public libraries in the Old Country no one is allowed to {nrooure any book for a member except the ibrarian.—l am, &c., Fair plat. Dunedin, January 4.