DEPUTATION TO SIR PATRICK BUCKLEY.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 125, 15 May 1895, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO SIR PATRICK BUCKLEY.

Tin. Library amj Rkadino Room. Taking advantago of .the presence in Rotovua oi a Minister of the Crown a deputation from the Library Committee waited o:> Sir Patrick Buckley at his rooms in Mrs Graham's Lake House Hotel on Thursday last, for the purpose of making known the wants of the Institution. Mr Kelly, M.H.R., introduced the deputation, which consisted of Messrs Williams, Protheroe, Coiiott, and Seddon, (lion, secretary), and in doing so stated that the affairs of the Institution were in a rather embarrassed condition owing to a lack of funds, Seeing that Rotorua was I an exceptional town and distiict it was

considered that the Governmentmight do i i something to make the building more pre- I 1 sentuble to tourists and strangers, who i availed themselves of its privileges and ' could not very well be expected to contri- i bute to the funds. The present premises 1 were Government property and had been ' .granted for the purpose it was now being 1 put to. The building had recently been fresh shingled at a cost of about £l<> but ; now required painting and otherwise renovating. Mr Seddon stated that tourists were ' granted the free use of the reading room and availed themselves of it to a very eon- ' siderable extent. He would more particularly direct the Minister's attention to the state of the building. The Committee | had been as energetic as possible in increasing the income and though they ! could pay their way they could not afford j to spend anything on improving the building. A sum of about £3O would make it presentable. It was thought that under the circumstances a subsidy might be obtained. Sir Patrick Buckley said that a subsidy could scarcely be expected. If such were granted applications for similar assistance would flow in from every part of tho Colony. Most certainly the place had claims for consideration as it. is a Government township and lie would do everything he possibly could to assist them. If it were merely a question of putting the place in repair he would advise them to write to the Premier and he (Sir Patrick) would be glad to advance the matter as far as he could. He thought their objects and aims were most laudable. He underj stood they hud the building rent free, and he might'point out that if they had but a I nominal rental to pay their position would be strengthened as the (jrovornmilit would then be bound to keep the place in repair. Mr Williams stated that the present income amounted to about £4O, and after the expense of cleaning, lighting, &c., I was met, the balance was devoted to the I purchase of periodicals. An occasional concert had provided them with funds to ! procure books. The nucleus of a museum was also being formed. Sir Patrick Buckley said he was glndto hear about tho museum. It was a thousands pities such a thing had not been thought of before when curious relics of old Maori life were much more numerous. Still, much could be secured, no doubt, even now. There was no place so favorably situated in this respect as Rotorua. Ho assured the deputation that ho would 1 stretch a point to assist them. Tiie conversation then became general and had reference to the reserve set apart in the new township for museum, &c. If it were not suitable their member, Sir Patrick thought, might be able to get it changed for one more suitable. The members of the deputation seemed to be ! una urinous in the opinion that if a more j fav.nublcsite were obtained there would be I little difficult)' in raising a sum of £3OO , for ■■: library and museum when necessary. Tho deputation thanked Sir Patrick and withdrew, alter mutual compliments had been exchanged. On Saturday morning Sir Patrick was, at his own request, shown over the building by the Secretary who supplied him with all information regarding the institute! and the outcome of this is that a letter has been addressed to the Premier asking for a sum of £25 or £3O for the I repair of tho premises. Another letter I to the Minister of Lands asks that thesite on Block VI for a Museum and Library should be exchanged for another on Block V. It is pointed out that the former site would require an expenditure of several hundred pounds for drainage, ' &c, and that as the Committee hope to soon be in a position to erect a building thoy are anxious to have the exchange effected. At the same time thoy do not ■ wish to stand in the way of the applica--1 tiou made by Mr C. Malfroy, their Chairman, for a site on the public square ■ opposite the Post Office, should such be ' decided upon by the Government. ! TOWX IMPROVEMENTS. A deputation of residents afterwards '. waited on tho Colonial Secretary to lay before him certain matters affecting tho ' prosperity of the town and to crave bis assistance in respect thereto. The sani- ■ tary condition of the town was first ' alluded to and tho necessity which existed u for having this matter attended to before ' next tourist season. The owners of the ' hotels in course of erection seemed to he [ alive to the situation and were taking steps to meet it, but a sewage scheme j' which could be generally adopted required to be formulated. Sir Patrick expressed himself as being fully aware of the ini- ' portance of the matter. He understood ; that the attention of the Town Board f would be drawn to it in the new instrucl tions which wore being prepared for their '" guidance. The Board were already aware 3 however of the gravity of the situation in ' this respect. The new wharf and the " carriage road to the summit of Ngongo- '" taha were iriso referred to and the Minis--1 tor stated that the residents might rest 0 satisfied that tho promises of the Govcrn--1 ment in these respects would be carried 1 out.