THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1885.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7513, 17 December 1885, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1885.

The inaugural address of His Worship the Mayor at the statutory meeting of the City Council yesterday was sensible and business like. With no pretensions to elocution, Mr. Waddel always manages to express his thoughts in terse and fitting language, which leaves no doubt as to his meaning. As a rule he is fearless in the expression of his opinion, but always states it with suilicient deference to the views of others to save him from the charge of arbitrariness or egotism. There is not much evidence furnished in what he says of his being possessed of that enthusiasm which captivates the multitude, but there is an ample measure of that quiet persistency of purposes which exerts a not less decided iniluence, and which is as a rule followed by more abiding results. Such being the characteristics of his mind, his review of what has been done during the past year, and his outline of what would call for special attention in the future, was of that matter-of-fact description which proceeds on the assumption that neceesary and commendable undertakings secure approval independently of any special advocacy. His references to theee will therefore bo read with pleasure by all the citizens, and the conscientious and hopeful tone in which he alluded to the part ho had taken in connection with them and would yet be called on to perform, gave good promise of the satisfaction he will give during this his third term of ofiice.

One of tlio subjects alluded to by his Worship as being closely associated with thu character as well as progress of the city, is deserving of special mention. We refer to the securing of proper designs for the internal fittings and furnishing of the new Public Library, and the replenishing of it with appropriate books. The spacious building will probably be completed early in the year, and, as His Worship well remarked, it would not be business-like or creditable to allow a structure, of that character to be idle for want of the necessary furniture. However, it may, we think, be safely loft to the good sense of the Council to anticipate in this matter the wish of the citizons, who will, with a just pride in this institution, bo naturally eager to see the Library Hall not only occupied with

as little delay as possible, but also fitted up in a becoming manner. But the question of the selection of books is one that will need to be considered not less promptly but yet more deliberately. The space to be filled is ample, and this is apt to beget a desire to fill it rapidly. No evi), perhaps, would arise from this were there no danger of the funds available for the purchase of new books being spent less with a regard to their quality and more with a view of merely increasing their number. But there is such a danger, and the smallness of the book fund at the Council's disposal only tends to increase that clanger. That the Council, or those of its number entrusted with the selection of books, will yield to the temptation of making the money go as far as possible in merely filling the i shelves wo do not believe. On some former occasions v,e took the opportunity of commenting on the tendency to spend money in undue proportion on light literature to the prejudice of works of standard merit. This tendency, however, cannot be said to exist now; and it is most gratifying to learn that it has been removed by gradual but steady improvement on the part of those frequenting the Library. To this the report of the Librarian, which appeared in our yesterday's issue, bears explicit testimony. After enumerating the different classes of books contained in the catalogue, he says that, whereas fiction held the sway until within the last year or so, nob more than 30 per cent, of books in this department are now in demand ; and, that oven under the head of fiction, while the writings of well-known authors such as Dickens are much perused, sensational writers are seldom asked for. The most popular section of the Library is that which comprises such subjects as architecture, agriculture, botany, geology,chemistry, engineering, mining, mechanics, manufactures, painting, engraving, etc, Those aro precisely the works which are calculated to advance the culture as well as tho practical education of the people; and it is pleas-ing in the extreme to find the Librarian state in his report that the calls for works on the above subjects are very much greater than the Library, in its present limited state, is able to meet. Works of reference, we are told, are also much in request, as well as those on history, travel, law, poetry, and even theology. This report, as a whole, certainly gives ono of the most satisfactory accounts of a Public Library that has come under our notice for a considerable time past. It contains a high compliment to the growing taste of the reading portion of thb community, and shows incontestably that books of the highest merit will, if placed within their reach, be in the end always preferred by the groat body of the people. It moreover shows very clearly the direction in which an addition to the volumes at present in the Library is most urgently called for, and ought to render the task of selection referred to by the Mayor one of comparatively easy performance. With the treasures which generous donors have already conferred on it, to be yet followed by similarly noble gifts, and, with the taste of the people encouraged to observe the line it is now pursuing, the time is not remote when our Free Public Library will take a leading place in the list of our civic and educational institutions.

Though the latest reports concerning tho health of the passengers on board the steamer Dorunda lead to the conclusion that the measures taken by tho Queenshind authorities may prevent cholera fron; spreading boyond that vessel, it is yet necessary that precautions against the communication of the disease should be adopted by the Governments of all neighbouring colonies. In our last notice of this matter we drew attention to the promptitude with which the Victorian Government proclaimed that all vessels from Queensland ports would be subjected to quarantine on arrival at Port Phillip ; and, by this time, it might hav<> been expected that the Now Zoaland Government would have followed the example thus act them. It appears that instructions have been sent to all the health oincors at the sever.il intercolonial ports drawing their attention to the fact of cholera having appeared on the Australian coast, and requiting them to employ more than ordinary vigilance on the arrival of vessels hailing from that quarter. But this is not enough. There may not, it is true, be the same frequency of communication between Queensland and New Zealand as exists between that colony and Victoria. At the same time the fact cannot be overlooked that occasionally sailing vessels come direct from Queensland to Auckland, and the possibility of one such vessel arriviug unexpectedly ought to be in preeent circumstance a sulhcient warrant for bringing the quarantine law into force, lint our Government are very peculiar in their ideas of duty in respect of such matters and tho relative importance of occasions. It is only a very brief time since the Colonial Secretary sternly refused permission to the American Circus Company to land certain ponies, though declared to be in excellent health ; and, while such action caused great inconvenience and inflicted perhaps some injustice, the letter of tho law was yet pled as its justification. With that action, however, we do not at present wish to find fault, and refer to it only for the purpose of contrasting the promptitude with which it was takeu and the slackness in their administering the law on the present occasion, when an alarming epidemic has manifested itself on the neighbouring coast. Unless they wish to convey the impression that they set more value upon stock than they do on human life it behoves them to show more alertness in adopting proper moans of precaution when cholera is near our shores. In the course of last year, while cholera was prevalent on tho coast of tho Mediterranean, all Bteamors leaving Etfypt were subjected to a fortnight's quarantine after arrival at Italian and French ports in that Rea. When danger such as that arising from the presence of this disease is impeuding, preventative measures cannot be too speedily taken, nor too rigidly enforced, especially in these warm latitudes. A strict quarantine should therefore be observed with respect to all sailing vessels coming direct from Queensland, while vigilance should also be exercised over all steamers hailing from other Australian ports.