THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7392, 2 May 1902, Page 1

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

OPENING OF THE NEW READINGROOM. . A very large gathering of ladies and gentlemen/ assembled at the Public Library yesterday afternoon for tibe opening of the new reading-room. The room was tastefully decorated with pot plants and ferns, and seating accommodation- was provided for a large number of guests. At one end was a platform, on wfoicli were seated Mr T. S. Weston (chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College), the Hon W. Montgointry, the Hon C. C. Bowen, the-Right-Rev Bishop Grimes, the Very Rev Dean JJarper, Mr G. W. Russell, M.H.Ri, 3Vir W. H. Montgomery and Mr J. G. L. Scott. An apology was received for the absence of the Mayor (Mr A. E. G. Rhodes). . The proceedings were opened by the Chairnianyvwiho in a brief, speech referred to the ev&nte which led up to the erection, of the new reading-room and galleries. He expressed regret at' th© absence of the Hon W. Rolleston, who had 1 been closely identified with the foundation! of the Library— (applause)— and .Ms sorrow that the late Mr H. R. Webb, liis predecessor as chairman of the Board of Governors, had not been spared to see the opening of the new buildiugs. He then asked the Hon W. Montgomery to declare the reading-room open. The Hon W ; Montgomery, who was received with loud applause, said that he had been requested by the Governors of the Canterbury College to declare the room in which they were a iree reading-room, open to the public, but before doing so'he thought a short account of how the Publio JiibraTv,.. of. which the free reading-room, '•foiined. a part, was established, might be of interest to many. .'ln 1875, nearly thirty years ago, the half-acre of land, on which Was erected a wooden* building, was vested in trustees for the purpose of «. " Literary Institute." In the building was a smaiU circulating library and a free reading-room. Matters were not in. a satisfactory position financially, and two :prominent citizens determined .to make an effort to establish a Public Library in Chr|Btchuroh. With that object in. view they a,ppealed to the publio for th© necessary ; ftinds. ■ The public responded promptly^a^i 'liberally, a- sum of yilS^-beJ&i^ra*"^' The manner Vk s whiohit&B "pttbKc ' of fthirty • years^ago met this appeal^ to •theirf generosity- deserved' the griteful itmembrance : of the. public to-day. (Applause.) Then/thb Government, recqgnising tie importance of the undertaking, promised that £4000 should be placed on the Estimates for a r.ew brick, building, and also an annual sum for maintenance. On Dec. 15, 1873, the. Trustees of the Institute conveyed by deed, the whole of their property, to the Superintendent of. Cantexbxuy,

•vrith a proviso' that a Public Library anc Free Reading-room should be maintains, in a thoroughly efficient state, and the Superintendent in 1873 aeked' ' the Board of Governors of Canterbury College (which had been established in tna same year) to take charge. In this manner the Canterbury Public Library came under the control of the Board i of Governors of Canterbury College. In July 1878, the Governor of New Zealand, in whom all public property became vested on the abolition of the Provinces in 1876, conveyed the property to the Board. The brick, building in which tlie Circulating Library was now placed, was erected b.v funds granted by the Provincial Government in 1873, and since that time the Board cf Governors erected the building now used as a Reference Library. In 1876, a considerable endowment of land (103,000 acres) which had been ' set apart by the Provincial Council for the purpose of estab- | lishing and maintaining a museum, library and technical school of science, was by Act of Parliament vested in the Board of Governors. He might remark that the wisdom and foresight of the Provincial Council in setting aside such' large reserves for educational purposes should never be forgotten by the people of Canterbury (Loud applause.) The Library and Reading Room had been maintained in part by the revenue derived from that endowment, and in part by the payments of subscribers to the Clrculatirig Library. Presents of books had also been made by well-wishers from time to time, and it .was but right to place on record the high appreciation of the Board of Governors of the splendid benefactions bequeathed by Mr James Gammack, of Ellesmere, and Mr Arthur Postle, of Papanui. The endowment made by Mr Gammack now produced £400 a year, to be applied in the maintenance of the Circulating Library, and the annual income from Mr Postle's bequest amounted to £95, which sum was to be devoted to . the purchase of books for the Reference Library. (Applause.) In the Circulating Library there were 20,026 volumes. This department was for subscribers only, and the average number last year had been 1894. The Reference Library contained 13,451 volumes, many of them of great, value, and was free to the public, , subject to .conditions necessary for the safeguarding of the books. The new Free Reading Room was 60ft in. length by, 36ft broad, with a spacious gallery, all round. There would be- reading desks, and comfortable seats for visitors. The. room would Tie supplied with periodi; cals:and newspapers of the latest date. At present there were 23 periodicals, English and American, and 91 newspapers, English, American and colonial, taken in for the Reading-room. These would be supplemented by others from time to time, in factj-it' was the intention of the- Board to make it 'equal to .all reasonable requirements. . -It- was with . great pleasure that ;. he declared the ' room open as a Free Reading Room. (Loud applause.) The Chairman then read a letter from Mr Justice Williams expressing his appreciation of the Board's invitation to the opening of the buildings, and regretting his inability to be present, owing to pressure of business. The letter referred to the efforts made by the Hon. W. Montgomery for the establishment of the library, and expressed the hope that he would be asked , to perform the opening ceremony. '••...■ . The Hon Q;- Ci^Bbwen; ■whowrising was th> , signal, for loud applause, said that the library was ons of .the most educative influences connected with the University, and the Governors had taken the right course in working for its best advantage. In connection with the library itself, he thought that people should' not be too exacting in their demands for books. There was always a run on new literature, and people seemed, to forget that the value of a book could hardly be adequately gauged on its first appearance. (Applause). Was there not a leaning towards the inclusion jof too much fiction in the library? There F-WRfi a r gb6d7deaf of trash written nowadays, .and a good deal thai was merely vulgarly sensational. (Applause). It was a very gratifying thing to know that so fine a room as that in which they were had just been declared a free reading room. The library was well provided in this respect, but he should like to seethe Reference Library made more perfect. He regretted the absence of the Hon W. Rolleston, who, as Superintendent tf the Provincial Government, had been of the greatest assistance in the foundation of the library. (Applause). MrG / W- Russell, M.H.R., in a short spee'chj'pafa an- eloquent tribute to the work of the Board of Governors, in its efforts to increase the utility and comfort of the Library. He went on to say that the large amount of fiction placed on the shelves of the Library was obtained at the request of subscribers, the committee taki ing care that none 'but good literature [should be provided. The Library had now i. progressed so far that in the colony it was | second only to the General Assembly's Library at Wellington. Moreover, the list of improvements was not yet exhausted: The authorities hoped to make the Library a truly provincial institution, and, by mean? of the post and the railways, to disseminate its literature throughout the province.The Library was but a part of the great scheme of education, which included nc' only the courses in arts, but also full ir struction in scientific and technical sub i jects. (Applause.) In concluding the proceedings, Mr Wes ton expressed the thanks of the Board ol Governors to its architects, Messrs Collins and Harman, and to the contractor. H said that he had yet another pleasant dutto perform, in the presentation of a silvc cigarette-case, and match-box and cigar ette-holder to the sub-librarian, Mr B Strong, from the library staff. This woul be a memorial to Mr Strong of the presei occasion. Mr Strong briefly replied. His Lordship Bishop Grimes then asir the audience to express its appreciation the services of the Chairman, and this wr done in hearty fashion. During the 'afternoon, songs were sunr by Miss Graham, Mrs E. Barber, and Mi A. Millar, Mr A. J. W. Bunz acting as ar companist. At the conclusion of the pro ceeding3, afternoon tea was served.