DR. HOCKEN'S COLLECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13637, 5 July 1906, Page 6

DR. HOCKEN'S COLLECTION.

There has been singular apathy oh the part' of tlie public of this city ovei tlie public-spirited offer of Dr Hqckeii, inside some years since, to bestow his valuable library, manuscripts, maps, plans, pictures, etc> to the city, conditionally oil a suitable building being erected in which to house this almost priceless collection, which should further have competent supervision. There are not very many peoplo in the community who have any idea of the. extent and variety of Dr Hockeii's treasures, nor of their monetary value, or it is probable there would have been long ere this an energetic public movement to ensure compliance with the stipulation very wisely niade by Dr Hocken, and thus secure for Diinedin ivhat is probably the finest gift of the kind that has been placed within reach of any city in New Zealand, It is not too much to say that never in the history of the colony has the. patience and energy of a. lifetime, and the expenditure of a small fortune, resulted in the gathering together in olio collection of articles of such unique interest associated with the early history of New Zealand. The question of providing' a suitable habitation for Dr Hocken's collection and its' proper care has been practically lost sight of by our citizens,' and it is high time that such extraordinary indifference should give place to ;i realisation of the very great generosity displayed by Dr Hocken, and to the inauguration of a systematic effort to place tlie city in possession of things of such value that, were they within the grasp of some of- the wealthy collectors of the Old" Land, would soon leave our shores. It was at one tiine thought .thsit provision might have been made for housing Dr Hocken's collection in either the projected Free Public Library or in a building associated with the proposed iiefr Art Gallery, but the citizens who have in baud the pushing on of these very admirable, objects do not appear to have found it possible to add to either of them the accommodation required to meet Dr Hocken's stipulation. Jt is true, we understand, that lately the rommittee of the Diinedin Free Public Library, which is, owing to the generosity of Mr Carnegie, about to become an accomplished fact, have had some communication with Dr Hocken on the siiliject, in the hope that something might be done. Hut it seems unlikely that any suitable provision could be made for so. extensive n collec-

tion in the library building. It appear* to be imperative that suitable rooms should be specially built for the purpose, and wo have no hesitation in saying that it will redound to the everlasting discredit of the people of Dunedin if they any longer treat Dr Hocken's generous offer with the indifference they have up to the present manifested towards it. Wo commend the. subject to the Consideration of the Mayor and his councillors as ono deserv-' ing of their immediate attention.