A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2249, 8 April 1897, Page 22

A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

A meeting of the Free Public Library Asso» ciation waß held at the Town Hall on Eriday night for the purpose of considering the question of establishing a free public library in this city. His Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Gourley) presided, and the following goutlemen were also present :— The Hons. It. Oliver, W. D. Stewarfc, and W. M. Bolt, Drs Jtffcojit, Brown, and Fulton, Revs. J. Gibb and W. Saunders, Crs Hardy, Haynes, C. M. Mouat, and M'Gregor, Messrs A. Bathgate, A. R. Barclay, B. Sievwright, J. M. Ritchie, D. Harris Hastiugs, P. Black, W. Reid, D'Arcy Hsggitt. C. R. Chapman, F. Chapman, W. Hutchison, J. M. Galkway, J H. Hosking, F. Armstrong, and M. Cohen (acting secretary). Mr Cohen, who wan called upon by the chairman to explain the object of the meeting, said for some time pasb the Public Library Associai tion had ceased actively to promote the establishment of a free public library, because ib ' was not considered advisable, in view of the | poll taken in 1891. to make any appeal to the citizens in connection with the matter uutil the frauchise was txtended ; bul". in view of the Record Reign celebration it occurred to some that the preneut might be a fitting opportunity, not only to launch the scheme, buc to go to tha public for funds to give practical effect to it. When, however, ib was proposed to hold a public meeting to oonsider this matter lit got whispered aboub that another meetiug was bsing held in the city with the same object in vibw ; aud the committee ot the association came to the couclusioa that it would be unwise to have the two schemes clash with one another. They, therefor 6, called the present moating for^e purpose of ascertaining if a comniougcouuffMJould be arrived at. There was every reason to thiuk that if a practical scheme were formulated and put , before the public at the time it would recaiva a ' large measure of support. He had received a i tetcec from tho Rev. W. Hewitaon apologising | for his non-attendance. Mr W. B. Christie, j Hccrobary ot the Christian Echicil Institute, wrote forwarding a resolution pissed by the atsocißtion agio -ing to acquaint the Free Public Library Association of their practical interest iv the question of a free public library for Dunfic'iti, aud of their desire to co-operate with thu association with a view to devising mevjs whereby a free public library for Dunlin might be «i-tablished iv the near future Dr Btic'">elor regretted hid inability to a,tteud, imt promised to support an- schemß that; might be agreed upon iv connection with a free pub'ia library. Messrs H\lk'u«l"io, Jivgo, J. G)ie, A. Wilson, J. Sterna, and Seobiis Mackenzie also spn l ; fcpologifs Mr R Hudson wro-.e offering to give £1000 towards tho purcha-e of the Colonial Ba'ik for a free pubic libiary if nine other* would eioh 'iiib^cribo a similar amo'inr, or he wo ild give £500 if 19 o;herß wou'd subscribe £500 each, lie hoped that a mitlicipnt; number of his fellow-citizens would riss t> the occasion and assist in establishing a free public library that would be a ere lit to the city. Mr H. S * Fish sent; a letter ssafing tha 1 ; he could b-> reliad on for Irs hearty co-operation in any mov-ment which had for its object tin proper , utilisation of Dr Hocken'a splendid offer, and I in conuecriou therewith the estiblishmenf; of | the nnich-ueodtd public library. The Rev L. i J. Htrrison intimated that he would be only j too plaaced to a.sstsi; the movement, wh«ther by p"ouuiary atsistance or by personal service. ! Tue Hon. W. D. -tkwart said the proposal of the ofcnor committeti scarcely justified the deta'la being discu-se.i at present Tho itleaoE Me Johu Davie was that the Coloiiiul Bmk should be purebred for a free pubic library, and it it could be carried out it would give , universal satisfaction. The preliminary and chief difficulty was to know whether the Colonul Ba; k site was lor sale for such a purpose, and afc a reasouablo prico. It was bplioved that she ulterior intention of the Government was to secure the Colonial Bunk for public cfucp.s in connection with Government departments. Ho would like to know whether any equally suitable site could be obtained if the Colonial Bank building was not available. He did not think the cite at thobaok iof th? Town Hull was smithies If they wanted a pub ie library ib should bB as central as possible. ' Tbe Hon. R Oliver s»id he had inspected the Colonial Bank iv conip»ny wibh a friend of literary tastes, and he thought that that building was eminently unsui'iable for a public library. It would be a great pity, in his opinion, th»t the enthusiasm on behalf of the movement: should be wasted by any rivalry in schemes. It appeared to him therefore, that before thay rould go very much further, they ought to see whether they could utilise the zeal of tho^ewho were associating themselves with Mr Dwie. The qnesino/i had bean considered from time to time as to whether the A-kcamm would form i the nucleus of a public library. H."., however, 1 thought that was not a right idea. Whether a | public library were e»tablishod in Dunedin or not, there would «till be need forau Athensaatn. Then the Athenaeum was not at all suitable for a public library ; and it conld scarcely bo considered a creditable Athenaeum He would move — " That in the opinion of this meeting a. fitting way of calibrating the Recordßaigu of her Majesty in Dunedin would be to take steps to establish a public library " j Th« Rev. W. Saundeus seconded the motion, i wciej, after nome further discussion, was ' carried unanimously. ! During the courso of thn discussion the ques- [ tion was raised as to whother Dr Hoeken would want a building exclusively for the library which he had generously offered to the public uader th^ conditions rec^ktly mentioned by him, and Mr Cohen said he had a letter on the aubjret from the doctor, who wrote: — C> l know well the great interest you take in a free library, and entirely respec 1 } the efforts you have made in this direction. For ray ovm part, however, ! I have never thought favourably of the movement. The reasons, I need not, of course, here give. I presume ycur suggestion would ba that free library, arfc gallery, Maori collection; and my gift should be under one roofr-sirailar, indeed, to the arrangements in--^he Aucklaud Frea Library. Tho suggfs'.ion is, I think, a good one, but I have not thought it oub as ib deserves. The whole matter is in a preliminary stsge, and it is so dependent; oa public response. The intention of my remarks at tbe nuuual meeting was to stimulate the public to r»ise funds for the breation of a building which would be a proper home for collections of tuch a kiud as are both valuable and educational." It would appear from the letter that Dr Hoeken did not contemplate that a building should be set apart excluhivfly for his library. The CirAinji\N aaid in reference to the question of a site that he thought that tbe City Couucil would be quite willing to assist the project by giving any ground at their dianosal. Failing that he thought the Harbour Board would go a littH out of the way to assist tho movement. Mr B VRCLiv said as rog.irScd the question of a dc:fini-,H -cbemo which h<<l baen referred toby Mr GdHaway, hi;idoi wz* p-jrfec'Jy clear on the subject. The proposal with regard to the

Colonial Bank had somewhat arrested matters. If that could be secured for tho purpose of a public library the funds might be raised, he thought ; and a^ a member of the association he would do his best to get the members of the association to fall in with that scheme. Failing that, however, another scheme seemed to be perfectly practicable. The tirsb thing to be done vraß to aek the corporation to give them the site at the back of the Town Hall. Then the citizens must bs appealed to for fund? to erect a building there. The Athenroum ought to behauded over to City Corporation, the books being absorbed in a public library, and the buiiding sold or rented from the proceeds of the sale of the building, or the rents then would be the nucleus of an annual sum which would ba devoted to carrying ou the institution. Various bequests might also be utilised for the purpose of defraying the annual expenses. In the event of there not being a sufficient gum 'or the purpose then the corporation must make a small charge to persons who used the library. H ; s idea was that there should be a circulating library, a reading library, and, if it be practicable, a reference library. After some further discussion Messrs Ritchie, Barclay, Bathg*te, and Cohen were appointed a committee to confer with the gentlemen associated with Mr Davie, and report to a future meeting to be convened by the mayor.