LINCOLN LIBRARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10346, 29 December 1911, Page 1

LINCOLN LIBRARY.

ANOTHER CORONATION MEMORIAL. The Lincoln Publio Library has for some thirty-five years had its habitat in a small wooden building on part of the public road. This building having outlived its usefulness, tho residents some months ago decided to erect a new building as a Coronation Memorial. A committee of sixteen was set up to further the project, _ and about £SO was immediately subscribed. An application for the Government memorial subsidy was forwarded through the Springs Road Board, but tho application did not arrive in Wellington till after the time limit set by the Government, and it was refused on this ground. On the return of Mr R. H. Rhodes, M.P., from England, that gentleman urged that the application should be granted, as the delay was not the fault of the local committee, and the Hon D. Buddo finally consented to propose a grant of £IOO, similar amount was raised locally, and that the foundation stone of the building wass laid before the end of tho present year. The foundation stone was laid yesteiv day by Mr Rhodes. The building designed is a wooden one, consisting of one apartment 30ft by 16ft. It was originally planned that it should have an iron roof, but in view of the mte being on a comer of tho Lincoln Domain, facing the approach of the township from Christchurch, Mr Rhodes offered to pay the difference between the coat of an iron roof and a tiled roof. The building is to cost £lO3, and an additional £SO will be spent on interior fittings. Tho books in the old library will form the beginnings of the new library. The contractor for the new building is Mr Forbes, of Lincoln.

At yesterday's ceremony the Rev Jaspar Smyth©, chairman of the Library Committee, presided, and after detailing the history of tho movement for a new library and emphasizing the loyal motive Involved in tho undertaking, lie called, upon Mr Rhodes to lay the foundation stone. Mr Rhodes said that tho Hon D. Buddo had been willing from tho first to grant a subsidy to tho Lincoln Coronation Memorial Library, but feared that if one late application was granted the Government would have to accede to tho requests of a host of other applicants in the same position. The difficulty was got over by the dis>covflry that tho secretary of the local committee had forwarded an application direot within the specified timo, and it was now practically certain that the subsidy would bo forthcoming. A condition of the grant was that tho building must bo completed by May 18, and there would be no difficulty at all about that. The Government had granted subsidies totnlling £24,000 for Coronation memorials, and more than that sum had been raised by public subscription throughout the dominion. He referred to tho benefit which the possession of a good library would confer on the district, and wished the new venture every success. He then performed the ceremony, and declared the stono well and truly laid. On the motion of Mr R. W. Lochhead, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Rhodes for his many services in connection _ with the library, and on the motion of Mr G. Ronnie a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the ladies who were dispensing afternoon tea. Cheers were given for Mr and Sirs Rhodes.