OLD NEW PLYMOUTH

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1935, Page 1 (Supplement)

OLD NEW PLYMOUTH

LIBRARY SITE GRANTED

CBy !

S. C. Allan.)

[No. Hl.]

I have dwelt at length on the Mt. Eliot area because, as will fee seen later, the library ultimately came to be built on the site of the pa, and its new site is still on the area which was designed for it in the earliest days of the settlement. We will leave the subject of the library site in the meantime with the remark that the Plymouth Company and Mr. Carrington did all that was possible (by providing reserves) to put a library on a sound basis.

We turn to inquire in what manner the early settlers faced the problem of their own cultural development through the medium of book reading. The earliest record traceable is contained in Charles Hursthouse’s book on New Plymouth. Writing in London in a postscript to his book, dated July L 1849, he states: “A small public library and a literary institution has been established. The first races have come off with considerable spirit.” We can say, then, that a library was established in New Plymouth in 1848. But before that, the idea had been mooted in England, for in Mr. Wm. Haise’s diary we learn that the subject was • discussed at two meetings of the New Zealand Company. At a meeting of the company held at the Ship Inn and presided oyer by Mr. Francis Dillon Bell, the resident agent in London, on Decernbe 11, 1847, it was decided to establish the New Plymouth Institute and Library. A sum of £5O was voted by the board of the New Zealand Company and sent to Col. Wakefield in Wellington for this’ purpose. We do not know anything very definite about the people who were connected with the library at its inception, its committee or' supporters, but with the establishment of the Taranaki Herald, whose first issue appeared on August 4, 1852, notices and advertisements about its activities appear. It is quite clear that the library took its cultural objective seriously. It was not a society merely for the procuration of literature for its subscribers. The committee sper/ £5O in ordering apparatus for the purpose of illustrating the lectures to be given. A site for a building was obtained, but the necessary funds for its erection, not being raised the meetings had to be held in Mr. Beardsworth’s school in Vivian Street. This building was almost certainly the Sunday school building belonging to St. Mary’s Church, and can still be seen opposite the church. It is the oldest portion of the parish hall with vertical boards. The first lecture was delivered on November 4, 1851, by Isaac Newton Watt on “The Objects and Advantages of a Mechanics Institute.” The year’s programme of lectures appearing in many issues of the Herald is given to illustrate the nature of the fare provided, and to give a clue to the names of those most interested in the movement: November 24. 1851, Reading from Dickens, Mr. J. Weston; December 8, 1851, The Influence of Poetry on the Civilisation of Mr. R. T. Gilbert; December 22, 18al, History of Agriculture, Mr. P. .Scotland; January 5, 1852, Engineering, Mr. C. Brown; January 12, 1?52, Shakespeare Mr. Alexander King; January 26, 1852, Agriculture, Mr. P. Scotland; February J, February 23, 1852, Chemistry, Mr. H. Richmond; April 20. 1852, Philosophy of Aristotle, Rev. H. Groube; May 18, 1852, Moral Philosophy, Mr. J. Norris; June 1 1852, Vegetation, Mr. C. T. Batkin, June 15, 1852, Tropical Agriculture Mr. H Gain; June 29 and July 10, 1852, Mechanics, Mr. I. N. Watt; August 10, 1852, Flax, Mr. C. Brown; September 21, 1852, Astronomy, Mr. H. Richmond; December 15, 1852, Mineralogy, Mr. -F. U. GledhilL . • , That the plan of having a library and mechanics institute, and that the methods of providing cultural opportunities for the young settlement did not have universal support is evidenced from various criticisms which now began to appear ■in the Press. Perhaps they have little intrinsic merit, but they are valuable, and indeed the only material available on which we can reconstruct the spirit and atmosphere in which the new society had to struggle for its survival. They were evidently desperately _ short of funds. There were fine ideals and plans in plenty for providing a source of diversion for the youth of the townlet. but little unanimity. In the front age of the Herald oi September 1, 1852, is a “communicated” article which is a veiled attack on the Institute. It asks that the Institute make more provision, for the young, and inter alia states that “no desiderata demand more prompt achievement in a young community than the means of recreation and intellectual improvement . . . some place where they could enjoy an evening’s conversation ... where the next morning’s effects do not include a parched mouth . . . nor yet the embittering of remorseful reflections caused by an expensive and degrading debauch of the previous night.” And in a second “communicated article” on September 8 carrying on the subject it is stated: “We observe that . . . were the Mechanics Institute to embody the principle (of providing refreshments) they could easily get funds for building on the site recently conceded by the Government, getting funds by voluntary subscription or by forming the Institute into a share company.” To these communications, on September 15, “a member of the first committee” replied in a long letter in which the writer defended the Institute, explaining that “already many lectures have been delivered, good or bad, and that a twelve months’ supply of literature has been ordered, and valuable donations of books have been received and circulated.” “M” (another corresponddent) thought “that the objects of Mechanics Institutes are commendable, and that the founders of the Institue are serving the community,” but he objected to the term “Mechanics Institute.” “A public library and reading room,” he said, “should be the primary object of the institution.” The slow progress of the Institute had been caused by want of means to draw public attention to itself, and to the necessity of erecting a proper building. The lectures, through the kindness of Archdeacon Govett, had been carried on in a building provided by him (St. Mary’s School House). The committee had obtained a grant of land, and had applied for a grant of money. On September 29 “Crise,” in a satirical letter criticised “M” and “a member of the first committee” and concluded, ‘Let it be remembered that four years (which indicates that the library was established in 1848) have elapsed since, by want of action, or something like the nibbling system of the Institute which for the last twelve months has been in slow progress, we lost two sections of land and the sum of £5O intended for the same object. Therefore, let us be prompted by that experience, and having secured the land, let us agitate for cash. Lectures and books are highly commendable, but all are but dust in the balanre when weighed against cash . . . ” An editorial in the Herald of Sept-

ember 1, 1852 did not help the library. “It is true that a splendid and no doubt well intentioned attempt has lately been made by some gentlemen of the town to meet the exigency (the urgent need of provision of attractions for the youth of the town), but it is too slow in progress to be immediately beneficial. Moreover, we have no faith in Mechanics Institutes ...” The correspondence

closed with another letter from “Member of Committee,” who explained that the money mentioned was promised but was not called up. The Government had promised a site, and were asked to help supply the deficiency of funds, but in this matter the position was uncertain because, quoting from a public servant’s definition of an official promise “the fulfillment of an official promise is dependent on official contingencies. “A site for a building has been applied for and granted,” said tire correspondent, “and a handsome sum is promised for its erection, which the committee do not think it advisable to call for, till the position their efforts will place them in will enable them to do so with more certainly of success.” ; (♦A map showing the library site referred to above is published on the illustrations’ page this morning.—Editor.) (To be Continued J _ >