FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10755, 20 March 1897, Page 6

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

TO THE EDITCK.

Sir, — Our esteemed tiliow citizen Dr Hoeken deserves the greatest thinks cf the community for his generous offer to put bis valuable library at the disposal of the public under certain- conditions, with which we all must heartily agree, vide your issue of this day "Observation of Anniversary Day." On a, former occasion, when the question of a free public library wa3 first raised by Mr Mark Cohe:!, I offered to give certain valuable Germau books—viz., Goethe' 3 and Scbilier's works, also the works in history of Proiesßoc Carl Uotteet, of H»idelbers, "this being a unique work in New Zealand, as by its very liberal tendencies is was prohibited years ago in Germany for school purposes as being too democratic for the instruction of the youtig rising geasr&fcicn. In my humble opinion it is one of the grandest historical works ever written, and our young of general history in our university, and others who also study German language and literature, will fiud it a great help to them. lam aiso in. receipt of German newspapers by every mail, and shall have much pleasure to hind tht-.rn over to such free library. It nowdependson the committee of the Athenieuui and my esteemed friend Mr Cohen, as originator of the movement, to establish aueh free library for the bensfifc of the general public. My limited help for that most desirable objecs is at their disposal. You are perfectly at liberty to1 give my nama and address to any party who should apply to you in regard to the writer of tbis communication. If we look at'the grand free public library in Melbourne (where I myself more than 30 years ago sperit many a happy hour in it), I think it is almost high time that our leading citizens should do something to give to our young rising generation a similar benefit, and I am sure that many of them will then follow my poor example and make gifts of books for that purpose. I have also a valuable work, " Tbe Berlin Kle-dderadsteh" (Berlin Panch) of the war 1870-71, which I would with pleasure give to such free library, as such work must give our German fellow citizens much enjoyment woen they can read it free of any charges in a comfortable room, either close to the Athenajum

or otherwise, as may in future be decided.—l am, &c, March 19. H.J.