FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Evening Star, Issue 8267, 12 July 1890, Page 2

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

TO THE EDITOB. Slit, —I am very pleased to seo that notice of motion in this matter has been given in the City Council. I sympathise with it entirely, and have long felt that a city buch as Dunedin is is far behind other cities in not having a free library. Why, in Christchurch, oven, there is an immensely better library than ouro, and with only lutlf our annual subscription. In towns at Heme not half the si/2 of D'.tnedin yon find n great number of free libraries. 1, therefore, think that the notice of motion is most pcrlircnt and necessary, A free library is immensely more necessary than an art gallery—a very excellent institution in its way. Tho bachelors question will of course crop up, and .1 would suggest that in their case a small subscription lie continued—say, ~>i per annum. I should also like here to call attention to the present state of the Athemcuni. Its stuffiness and entire lack of ventilation is simply intolerable, and why the windows oven cannot be opened more is a puzzle. For my part, when in changing my book, I make all haste to get out into the fresh «ir again. If this state of matters ii owing to lack of funds, as is alleged, it is high tiino that some radical change were thcught over. —I am, etc., 11.M.C. Dunedin, July 11.

TO THE EDITOIi, Sir, —I, as a private citizen with a lui'<>o family, am very glad to see that onu of the City councillors appears to have the courage to advocate a free library. Mr Chapman Baw the need of it loDg ago, and ] am sorry that he has lost such a golden opportunity of handing Ills name down to posterity, n.a ho undoubtedly would have done had he carried out his promise. I sincerly hope that the present movement will be supported by thn councillors, as by giving a hearty support to it they will earn the gratitude of every citizen.—lam, etc., OiiATi'iri,, Dunedin, July 12,