THE GREY COLLECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17843, 26 July 1921, Page 4

THE GREY COLLECTION.

EXCHANGE WITH CAPETOWN.

LAST STAGES NOW REACHED.

A copy of the Act recently passed by the Legislature of the Union of South Africa, authorising an exchange of such books and manuscripts in the Grey Library at Capetown as relate to the Maoris or Polynesians, for books and manuscripts formerly belonging to Sir George Grey, now deposited in the Auckland Public Library, which relate to South Africa or its people, has been received by the Hon. George Fowlds in a letter from the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. D. Stewart. The Minister refers to this authorisation as the result of negotiations commenced by Mr. Fowlds during his official visit to Capetown in 1911. It appears from a letter embodied in the Act that Sir George Grey's original intention was to bequeath all his library to South Africa, but apparently his subsequent long residence in Auckland, and the fact that many of the books, manuscripts, and pamphlets which he accumulated subsequent to 1851 related to New Zealand caused him to change this plan. • The next step in connection with the exchange is the arrangement by the Auckland City Council for the selection' and transfer of the books and other articles which are of special interest to the people of South Africa. Among these articles is the spade with which Sir George Grey turned the first*sod of the South African railway.