FAIRLIE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 21 December 1925, Page 11

FAIRLIE.

FAIRLIE LIBRARY Rrize essays By the terms ot tlie will of the late Mr F. R. Gillingham, a sum of money was left to be invested, the interest from which will provide yearly prizes to the boy and girl at the Fairlie primary school who shall write, unaided, the best essay on the benefits of a circulating-library. The essays, are to be judged by the Chairman and Cleric of the Mackenzie County Council, and the-prizes are a year’s subscription to the Fairlie Library. The third competition has now been decided, the winners being John de Lambert and Kathleen Bell, out of fifteen essays sent in.

Boy’s essay.—“ There are many benefits to be derived by using a circulating library. in Fairlie, away from the great centres of civilisation, a library is very useful, as anyone may, for a minimum cost, read books on travel science, history, modern scholarship, or it wanting to find out something they may look up are terence hook. One of ihe greatest bcnelits derived from a circulating library is that we are able to rend all the aforementioned books for a minimum cost, more particularly m these days when the ends of the earth are being brought closer together by means ot airships, railways, fast steamers and wireless telegraphy. The nations of the earth are tending to become one family and the problems of each can be studied and appreciated by those who have not the advantage of travel. .Another great advantage is that the expense of the individual is reduced to a. minimum—a, few shillings a year. .Members of the community who are alfected by strikes of political or commercial character- can got a moro initelligeiit understanding of the movoI moms that lead to such. Then again, I lie- great questions of socialism, communism, etc., which have had such a great effect on the history of nations, -such as Russia, are capable of more intelligent understanding by those who have access to literature dealing with ! sin'll movements. Particularly to the [young student desiring to acquaint hiinj se.l with life in other parts of the j world, the value ot a library cannot be ■ overestimated. In-order to grasp the ileal value of a circulating library wo i nerd but io compare the happy stale of intelligence with the idleness and. igiioram-o which would be if wo had mu. circulating library.’’ j Girl’s essay.—“ The circulating libi racy is a boon to nearly every country ; ill llit- world. Mr Carnoigie, an Ameri--1 can millionaire, .founded circulating : libraries and free reading rooms all over tie- world. -The people of liaii'lie are vry proud of tle-ir Carnegie Library, for a. small yearly subscription we are 'given many books that we would not wish to buy; and. by being a sub- ' scriber to the. eiivulatiug library we may read ami enjoy them. An inventor, \vlu>, before lie patents bis invention, nviy want to make a few slight alter- , tions, but be may not lie aide to Hard the books. By joining the eircul- ■ ting library lie may find out all bo wants to know for a few shillings. In the winter evenings, if all the family, are. members of the circulating lilirary ; they stay indoors instead ol going io ! dances and placi-s of amusement. lit time they begin to know and love each l other, while if they hud gone out at night they might have got into had company. I f clii'dren have not properly finished their education they may teach ! themselves a. 10l if they join the eii'eul'aiing library. Every person should join ; ! he cireiila tliig library if they can afford Ml. iiecause it is money well spnqt ami i-lie- honks we rend now may help) im ! much m after life.”-