THE TURNBULL LIBRARY.

Marlborough Express, Volume LII, Issue 169, 20 July 1918, Page 6

THE TURNBULL LIBRARY.

ESTIMATED VALUE, £50,000

STATEMENT BY HON.' G. W. 11USSELL.

An important statement with regard to the Turnbull Library was mado to a "Times" representative on Tuesday by the Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Internal Affairs). "The valuable library built up by the late j Mr A. H. Turnbull over a period of many years, which contains an enormous number of books and manuscripts, and documents dealing with New Zealand, by his will," stated the Minister, "was offered to the Government of New Zealand to be maintained as a separate institution in the City of Wellington. The donor orders that the management of the institutio.i is to be on the lines of the ; British Museum and the Mitchell Library in Sydney. The value of the library is estimated at £50,000, but , many of the things contained in it probably will be regarded us priceless, there being no duplicates of them. The gift- has been accepted by the Government, and it has ieen determined to purchase the building in which the library is )iow housed, a portion of which has been specially made fireproof for the purpose of keeping the. library in safety, the re- j nainder being residential quarters. The library portixi of the building is i in four storeys, and it contains not § only a, very largo nimbe/ of books, but a. great number of bound newspapers dealing with the early history of the Dominion. "Cabinet has approved of the proposal that the institution is to bo named the TumbuU Library, in honor of the giver. It will be directly contj oiled by the Government Chief Librarian (Mr Charles Wilson); and the general management will be under the supervision of the Board of Science and Art, the chairman of which is the Minister for Internal Affairs. The conditions under which the library will be made available to the public will hi announced as soon as they ai\> reidy. In the meantime there is no aceevs whatever to the building, which is under suitable supervision and care."