NEW TOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 32

NEW TOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Tho Mayor of Wellington has written to Mr AV. Booth forwarding to him certain suggestions made to him by the committee of the South Wellington Library and Literary Institute on the subject of tho establishment of a library at Newtown, for which Mr Booth had offered a site valued at FoO'd and a further sum of FSOO for books.

In reply to this, ?»Ir Booth has written to the Mayor saying lie thinks both schemes are not moro than sufficient to satisfy the present needs of the large population which lias spread itself over the Newtown district.

Mr J. Anderson, lion secretary of the South Wellington Library and Liter iry Institute, has written to Mr Booth suggesting that if that gentleman would allow his gift to be used in a scheme in which the property of the Institute could he used, the committee think that; with the as a.-tonce of the City Council a goo.l and substaul ia! library, Ac., would bo attainable. The committee, ho points out, own a very valuable site in Riddiford street, and have a small sum of money and a certain amount of subscriptions promised, but they have hitherto found it impossible to increase tho latter to such an extent as would justify thorn in approaching tho Corporation to assist them in the erection of a suitable building. The committee therefore request Mr Booth to amend his proposal iu sued) a way as to utilise tho site of tho Institute, which.is much larger and moro central than tho one lie proposes. Since the date of Mr Anderson’s letter the Mayor has had several communications with Mr Booth, who appears to havo only ono dosire, or rather two desires, viz. (1) that the City Council should now as spoodily as possible express its views upon tho subject, and (2), that should it express its views favourably towards tho scheme the whole control should bo in tho hands of the City Council. Tho Mayor intends to move at the next meeting of tho City Council:

1. Tiro City Council acknowledges with pleasure, and accepts, tho generous offer of Mr Wm. Booth to present to the City Council a site at Newtown for the erection of a public library, and the further gift of FSOO for tho purchase of books.

2. That tlio Council undertakes to erect, or to mako arrangements to erect, a suitable permanent building, in accordance with tho terms of Mr Booth’s offer, with the least possible delay, such arrangements to be concluded within one year from date. 3. That tho offer of tho South Wellington Library and Literary Institute (vide their letter 4th March, 189(1) to hand over to tho City Council their site at Newtown, in order that the whole (Mr Booth’s proposal and theirs) may form one scheme, be accepted.

4. That the directors of the Boys’ Institute be asked to co-operate in carrying out this scheme, so that in any building to be erected at Newtown provision may bo made to provide accommodation for the Boys’ Institute.