CARNEGIE GIFT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 291, 6 November 1934, Page 4

CARNEGIE GIFT.

PRICELESS LITERARY WORKS.

Representing a commercial and literary value far beyond the reach of ordinary means and as an educational factor priceless in worth, the collection of books forming part of the gift of the Carnegie Corporation of the United States to the Feilding Agricultural High School arrived yesterday, and last night members of the school Board of Alauagers were privileged to inspect them. Even from a cursory examination —and unlimited time would be required to delve fully into the literarv wonders and treasures of the collection—it is safe to say that never before lias such a collection of books on fine arts been seen outside the shelves of a large libcrarv. The gift collection' contains limited editions and beautiful and costly works on all phases of art; from Picasso to Botticelli, and from Durer to modern woodcuts’; books with illustrations so faithful that possession of the original is not missed, books dealing with the arts and crafts of the ancient people on the one hand and on the other witli bookbinding, weaving, pottery and the graphic arts. It is truly a representative collection of books and reproductions and it lias been suggested that as such it should have a wider appeal than just affording teaching material for the school. It is felt that tlio books offer the opportunity to play a more important part in the intellectual life of the community and that some effort should be made to have their cultural value realised and made available to the public in some way. AAUtli the splendid gift it lias received the cultural equipment of the Feilding High School is now unique among the secondary schools of the Dominion, but that the full measure of value and learning contained in the art and literary treasures of the collection should not be availed of to the utmost would hardly he within the ideas of the donors of the collection and the proposal suggested by Air L. J AA’ild, headmaster of the school, that a Fine Arts Club ho formed ill Feilding will undoubtedly he fully investigated.