THE ATHENAEUM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 7491, 1 June 1885, Page 3

THE ATHENAEUM.

TO THE ftDITOB OF THE NBW ZEALANn TIMBS Slit :—I fail to see any just reason why the ratepayers as a whole should be made, nolens volens, compulsory contributors to the support of an institution, the ostensible reason forwhose existence is to gratify the depraved literary appetite of a section of the community—a section small indeed if the support accorded hitherto is a reliable criterion, and it should be reliable enough if the inducements offered hare been such as stated by the Treasurer and the late President. Monied men, of course, may please thumselves with regard to advancing or not advancing the support the institution is so much in need of; but the fact is, as complained by Mr Macdonald, they have not. Ho has found one reasou for this lack of spirit, viz., the constitution of the institution ; but I am of opinion that the considerations urged above have had much more to do with their " refraining to bestow their money where they wqnld not be sure ot it being applied to purposes of public usefulness." These views I gave prominence to on Friday night, but I carefully abstained fromdirectly condemning the management, much as the statement may be doubted by your reporter and .others who were present. In fact, I would consider it impertinent to have done so. I will not enter into details of line-drawn distinction, fearing to trespass on yourspace, but, withyout permission, I will take advantageof one of Mr M-icdonald's illustrations to make my meaning plainer. The library, he eaid, to be successful, must minister to the public desire, and the desire was for recreation. For instance, place Shakespeare on the stage, and yon will see a thin house ; put on the stage a light sensational play, and the house will be crowded ; the inference being that to get a full reading-room the reading must be light, sensational. Is Mr Macdonald prepared to make the theatre a public institution supported out of the taxes 1 and if not publicly support light amusement in plays, why support it in books 1 Mr Macdonald Jhas partly answered this by attempting to show that the library is also well supplied with useful works. On this point there is considerable difference of opinion, and for the sake of the institution I hope more will be heard of it in the future. It suggested a process whereby the library might be cleared of a lot of useless books, bat it was found impossible to carry it out owing to there being no book register kept, and although they had endeavored to bring into use a book register, the Secretary explained that they had so little knowledge of the whereabouts, and so little control over the books, that the scheme had to be abandoned unless the library were closed for a considerable period. With others, I think the, book register could be introduced by degrees. Mr Macdonald said that these questions had been completely thrashed out long ago. Judging, by results, the thrashing out he " refers to must have been for the sake of the chaff. I hope what has been done will not prevent them being thrashed over again, and this time for the sake of the seed.—l am, &c," H. BODLEY.

TO THE EHIfOH OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES, Sir, —In your account of last night’s meeting Mr Stuart is reported to have said “ that ten years ago Mr Frank Allen and Mr Baker were very successful in collecting subscriptions for the institution, and that one gentleman, the late Mr W, B. Rhodes, had given £100.” The gentleman from whom I received the donation was the Hon. C. J. Pharazyn, and the amount 100 guineas.—l am, &c«, F. Allen - . 30th May, 1885.