DR. HOCKEN'S MUNIFICENT OFFER TO DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10408, 5 April 1897, Page 6

DR. HOCKEN'S MUNIFICENT OFFER TO DUNEDIN.

I How true are the words of the groat dramatist, "The sight of ill deeds makes ill deeds done." The converse of this is also true—" the sight of good deeds makes good deeds done." We do not know fully yet what we owe to Sir George Grey for his princely gift to the city and to tho Free PublicLibrary,in stimulating other wealthy public men to remember what they owe to the community in which they have enjoyed or made their fortunes. Auckland lias been j particularly fortunate in obtaining legacies,

but in some of the other centres of popula-

tion in the colony, the wealthy citizens who have been public-spirited enough to benefit the community might bo counted on the fingers of one hand. Dr, Hocken, when recently in Auckland, made minute inquiries from Mr. Shillington, the courteous * librarian of the Free Public Library, as to the management of the institution, j the benefits derived therefrom and the extent to which the public appreciated its privileges. Evidently the idea was simmering in his mind of following Sir George Grey's example here, and presenting his magnificent collection of the early records of the history of the colony to the city in which he resides— Some men hamper their gifts with restrictionsgive to a section what was meant for mankind— so thot the general public do not value the gift or respect the giver. Dr. Hocken is not that sort of man, all he asks is that " a thoroughly suitable building shall be erected for the reception of his library, and that full and proper permission bo made for its careful preservation." He made his noble offer at a meeting to take steps to celebrate the anniversary day of the settlement of Otago, and in making it made the following remarks :—

; Very little or nothing was known ' amongst the young of the romantic history that, attached to this and to other settlements, and some steps should be taken, nob '. only to have the holiday obsorved, but to cause the young people to take a pride in the deeds of their forefathers. As indicating the ignorance which prevailed, he mentioned that two intelligent youths in Auckland not only could not direct him to the burial-place of Governor Hobson, but were not acquainted with tho fact that Governor Hobson was the first Governor of this colony. It would, lie felt assured, be a sad thing if the spirit of patriotism was not engendered and cultivated amongst the people of the colony, and especially amongst tho young. Tho observance of Anniversary Day appeared to me a fitting time to express my intention of presenting my library, otc, to the public if a befitting means of housing it were made and of providing for it efficient and continuous care. This library contains many thousand books and pamphlets relating to the history of New Zealand from its earliest days. Amongst them are pretty well complete sets of nearly all the newspapers of this colony of early date—say, from IS4O to IS7O. Much of this literature is extremely rare, and soino unique. Then follow old letters, documents, journals, and other manuscript connected with the early days. Then come old maps and plans of raro interest, many of them given to me by tho executors of the late Mr. Tuckett, who in 1841 was appointed as principal survoyor and engineor of tho Now Zealand Company. Then there are numerous old lithographs and other illustrations of a historical character. I give these particulars in no boastful way, but to enforce the claim that full provision should be made for the safeguard of such a collection before it is finally deposited, Its monoy value must amount to many thousand pounds ; its historical and instructive value would bo more difficult to estimate. I have always determined that this collection should never be dispersed, for its oontonts could never again bo gathered together, but that it should be bequeathed or presented by mo to tho colony, and to that portion of it in which I have spent so many happy years, and, indeed, tho best part of my life. During a recent visit to Auckland I was ranch impressed with the splendid building in which are placed tho valuablo collections of books and other treasures presented by Sir George Grey and othor public-spirited citizens. Such an institution we should have at this end of tho colony. It would; mark our culture and forward our advance*, moot. The accomplishment of this idea would indeed bo a fitting mode of celebrating our jubilee, It was with this object and with the intention of stimulating such a movement that I made my offer. It may bo said that in requiring the erection of such a building as hero indicated before my gift can be accepieJ I have attached a condition to which it will be difficult to give effoct. Ido not think this. I have sufficient faith in the public spirit of our wealthy citizens to believe that they will liberally contribute to such an object, and so show a good example to the general public. Ido not assume that the money required could bo collected during the forthcoming year, or even, perhaps, in two or throe years, but I am sure that present united action will result in a substantial advance being made towards the desired end.

Mr. G. Fenwick, editor Otago Daily Times, said he could say that only those who knew the library that Dr. Hocken possessed could appreciate as it desorved to be appreciated the very generous offer ho had made. The speaker had on many occasions found it necessary to consult Dr. Hocken's library, which contained books and documents that were not obtainable perhaps in any other house in the city, and many of the books in it woro not obtainable in Now Zealand, Those who did not know the extent of Dr. Hocken's library could not recognise the extreme generosity of his offer. Dr. Hooken was possessed of documents the value of which was really inestimable, and ho hopod that meeting was the beginning of an offort that would result in the erection of a building such as had been indicated, such as the Free Public Library in Auckland.

The Otago Daily Times says:—Dr. | Hocken's truly generous offer to present his valuable library and collection to tho city when a suitable building is provided to house it, uow stands in the forefront of public-spirited actions in New Zealand, for the library and other things of historical interest, the work of a life actively devoted to their accumulation, represent in money value many thousands of pounds. lb now rests with the leaders of public-spirited movements in Dunedin, and with those of her citizens whose success in life has placed them in positions of ease, to show Dr. Hocken their appreciation of the truly genorous spirit which has animated him in offering to the city the treasures of which he is the possessor. Dunedin has not had placed before it since its foundation a more genuine opportunity of suitably acknowledging a princely giff. The library is unique as a collection of the early records of Otago as well as of the colony generally. Apparently Dunedin is now in a fair way of becoming a good second to Auckland in the matter of possessing a good public library and art gallery.