A BOOK=LOVER’S DELIGHT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 September 1924, Page 8

A BOOK=LOVER’S DELIGHT

IHE IURNBULL LIBRARY

(Sydney Morning Herald)

In Bowen Street, Wellington, Nev Zealand, close to the stately Parliamentary House, is a modest three-’ storey structure of red brick with white facings, designed in Georgian style. An inconspicuous copper plateannounces it to be the Turnbull Memorial Library. Armed with, a Jotter from Mr Will Lawson, the New Zealand writer, who is now in America, I introduced myself to Mr Johannes Andersen, the learned librarian, who took pains to show me the treasures in his keeping, and gave me a detailed history of the institution and its originator. On another occasion a lady assistant, who was also an enthusiast-, courteously conducted me ro-und, orur peregrinations taking hours. But, indeed, a visitor would require manyylavs merely to grasp the outline of what ns to be seen. The library is comparable, on a smaller scale, with the magnificent Mitchell Library in Sydney. There was much in common between the remarkable men who respectively were responsible fox their creation. ‘ Both were ardent book-lovers, cherishing rare editions and sumptuous old bindings; both specialised on works connected, with the early days of their countries; both spent large sums to secure the treasures they desired; both had. in view not alone their own pleasure, but, led on by splendid generosity and ti'ue .patriotism, designed that their collections should liecome the property of the public without cost; both were not bibliophiles only, but readers and students who poured over their possessions; and both found such satisfaction in their beloved hobbies that neither married. TURNBULL’S CAREER,

Alexander Hcrsburgff Turnbull was born in Wellington in 1868, his father being a typical Scot who, coming to the country with no capital but brains and integrity, built up a large business. He was able to send his son to Dulwich College, England. The bookcollecting instinct developed quite early. Evidence of this is given by one of the treasures in the library, its very corner-stone. This is a book entitled “The King Country, or Explorations in New Zealand.” On the fly-leaf is a note written by Mr Turnbull: “This was the first book of my collection. I nought it to read going o.ut in the lonic in December, 1885.” Young Turnbull entered his father’s business, and for the greater part of his brief life remained associated with it. But his real taste was for books, and from the first lie devoted every moment he could spare, and every penny' he could make, to building up a splendid collection. While he hunted eagerly for anything pertaining to the early history of New Zealand and Oceana, lie by mo means confined himself to these. He acquired a manuscript diary of Captain Cook, written by the great circumnavigator when stationed in / the North Sea; lie got together printed works ija various languages wherein, are recorded the voyages of almost every great maritime explorer, his collection of Dutcii.' works being especially tine; he obtained rare first and autographed editions of many -British poets, while original letters of eminent writers, incunabula, antique-manuscripts, sketches an< l paintings representing scenes in early colonisation of ' New Zealand, contended for place with etchings by Rembrandt. ' He died iiv 1918, aged fifty. But ho had already gathered together some thirty thousand hound books, as .well as 'heaps.' of unbound pamphlets dealing with New Zealand history or politics, sketches and paintings of early days, and tiles of old newspapers. Among his books were numerous examples of the finest work in binding and printing, as those of the famous Zaehnsdorf, Riviere, aiid William. Morris. American literature he almost wholly ignored. Some time prior to his death Turnbull erected the present' building as a residence and library combined. The -rooms are large, and he had special glassfronted bookcases constructed to preserve his treasures fi’om dust and damp. In each room the cases' were framed from a different timber, and New Zealand red pine and cedar and Tasmanian black wood were largely employed.

A MUNIFICENT CITIZEN. . From the first .Turnbull had in mind j the formation of a .suberb national collection, not merely for his own immediate delectation, but for the benefit of his 'fellow-citizeiis. He permitted serious students the use" of valuable works while he was living, and he-, queathed all to the State when lie"died, blot only this, but in 1913’ he presented : to the Dominion Museum anonymously a magnificent assortment of Maori relics,'’weapons, and general curios. This munificent donation was only' disclosed after Kis death. His pictures of old %qy Zealand ' and "the islands he retained in the library, and'there are some most interesting exhibits hanging on the walls. ' striking is one representing the now" busy city of Wellington, as it appeared in 1844, a year after the settlement under the celebrated Edward Gibbon Wakefield had been made. There are also sketches by Charles Heaphy, draughtsman to theCompany of Colonists, which are invaluable. It is interesting to note that the waters of the harbour Washed almost to the foot of the hills, and that what is now Lambfcon Quay was actually the “Beach.” The enterprise of the people has reclaimed the 'not inconsiderable area of land which now constitutes the shipping district. After the death of Turnbull the New Zealand Government bought the building, and have since voted a yearly grant to keep it going, and, ‘indeed, to add to it.

BOOKS HICK AND BABE. The works dealing with New Zealand history and those in several languages, which chronicle the voyages of great maritime voyagers and discoverers total some 21,000. Among them is the first hook printed in New Zealand, in slim phamplet, entitled "Fifty Years Ago'in New Zealand,” dated 1834. The author was the Bev. W. Colenso, brother of the prelate whose then heterodox views shocked the theological world two generations ago. Mr Colenso, not having a professional printer to have recourse to, obtained and set up Iris own type. A "stick” of this is reverently preserved. Another interesting exhibit is the first publication in Maori—a church catechism, translated by another early missionary named Yate. Of treasures in general European literature there’are some eleven or twelve thousand. Some are bound in most sumptuous style by world-fa-mous binders, as Zaelmsdorf'or B.iviere. while the exquisite typography of William Morris is shown in others. The oldest item is a manuscript of Guido and Boethius of 1150. Then comes Venetian Incunabula of 1480. A perfect second folio Shakespeare is computed to be worth £800; the original edition of Milton's ‘‘Cornus” £I2OO. and the slim volume-of poetical tributes to the. memory of Fxhvard King, drowned in 1637. and in which "Tycu das” appeared, is assessed afc £I2OO. Another intriguing treasure is the first impression of that notable work "Robinson Crusoe,” w’hich has cheered the youth of so many generations. It appeared in 1719, ‘and brought immediate glory to Defoe. It was .reprinted

five times in that year, and the Turnbull Library has a copy of each, edition. A first edition of Wordsworth and Coleridge is valued at £4BO. There are many works accompanied by holograph letters of their authors, or by thei,r autographs. One of especial interest, in view of the recent death, of Joseph Conrad, is a copy of the first edition of “Alniayer’s Folly.” On the fly-leaf the author has written, “My first hook, Almayer’s ‘Folly. My best remembered sensation about it is the perpetual suprprise that I should be able: to do it at all. Began in the spring, 1889, and finished in 1894.” New Zealand has cause .to be proud of the Turnbull Library, and of the great-hearted man who founded it; no visitor who loves history or literature should pass it by.