The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1894.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 134, 11 April 1894, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1894.

Pahiatua is possessed of a Public Library and Free Reading Room, of the very existence of which many people were until lately quite unaware. The institution was formerly left to the management of a committee consisting partly of members of the Town Board and partly of private citizens, and we do not hesitate to say that at that period the responsibility was discharged in a perfunctory and wholly inadequate manner. Little or no effort seems to have been exerted to enroll subscribers, to make their institution useful or attractive, or even 1 to make its existence known to any other than those residents, the nature of whose occupation could not fail to make them acquainted with it. The concern was allowed to languish un- , heeded. The library was poorly sup- , plied with books, the number of which 1 decreased gradually through the failure of borrowers to return them ; the reading room was but a title given by oourtesy to a compartment which utterly lacked tho most necessary attributes, and offered neither comfort nor convenience to the studiously-/n----clined. In fine, the reading room and library were but empty names. But recently a change has come over the scene. The Borough Council has appointed a sub-comonittee to cooperate with a committee appointed by the subscribers of the institution, and some animation has been infused into their proceedings. An energetic secretary has dunned recalcitrant subscribers for their arrears with fairly satisfactory results. A well selected assortment of books has been procured to augment those pre--1 viously on the shelves. Vigorous efforts have been made to ensure the repletion of the reading room with the latest newspapers and periodicals. Subscribers and patrons have been canvassed for industriously : and altogether the institution has been brought into greater prominenoe than it had attained in any previous stage of its existence. But there still remains much to be done. With all the additions it has received the library offers but an indifferent choice of books; while the reading room is still as inconvenient as could be imagined for such a purpose. Depending for funds as it does upop the slender remittances of the Borough Council, and the small and fluctuating amount received from members, subscriptions, its finances may be said to be altogether governed by extraneous circumstances, Money in small amounts is expended by the committee almost in fear and trembling, for they know not whence further badly-needed remittances are to come. Surely this should not be sd in a town the size of Pahiatua. There should bs 2 convenient reading room and a creditable library. The educational advantages of these institutions should be sufficient to ensure them a healthy public support. The present Town Hall would make a suitable and convenient reading room, and the compartment which is now devoted to this purpose would be found useful as a library. As a Town Hall the present building is but little used. The town has outgrown it, and for ordinary purposes it is found too small. To make up for any possible loss of revenue and to assist in making the library worthy the name a small rate might be levnd. The idea will not probably meet with general apapproval, bat if ever the library is to fulfil its evident object recourse will have to be had to this means of securing funds. If allowed to continue to depend on so uncertain a 1 source as public subscriptions the : | library and reading room can never become anything more than they are , at present.