H.—35

2

I OBRESPONDENCE RESPECTING DONATION OF BOOKS.

No. 1. —Mr. Cabteb's Letter to the Board. Dear Sir, — Wellington, 22nd January, 1890. I am desirous of presenting to the New Zealand Institute and Colonial Museum my library of books on or relating to New Zealand, of the value of £300. One folio volume alone cost me £20. It is, I believe, the largest collection of books of its kind in any library in the colony, and contains over 100 works more than are in the collection of similar books in the Melbourne Free Library. The collection consists of 395 works on New Zealand, of which 64 are pamphlets,forming (with the 62 duplicate copies) a selection of 557 volumes, to which I have added 60 printed catalogues of the same. I respectfully offer the collection to the New Zealand Institute and Colonial Museum on the following conditions: — . 1. It i-. to he placed in a suitable position in the library of the Institute. 2. A properly constructed book-case, with glass doors, is, without delay, to be provided for its reception 3. The.books are to be used as works of reference only, and not to pass outside the Museum. I should part with the collection with some regrel did I not think it would be more useful to the public than by remaining in my possession. I do not anticipate that the present generation will appreciate its value, but I venture to hope that a succeeding one will. To collect and collate this small library of books on New Zealand has been to me, I may say, a labour of love, the fruits of which I now wish to entrust to your safe keeping. I have also to present to the Museum a collection of arms gathered on the battle fields of the 'Franco-German war of IS7O 71. and a French chassepot rifle used during the siege of Paris in 1871. I have, &c, Sir-lames Elector, K.C.M.G., Colonial Museum. C. E. Carter.

No. ± Reply to Mr. Carter, and Resolution of Board. Sir. — Colonial Museum of New Zealand, Wellington, 18th February, 1890. By direction of the Board of Governors of the Mew Zealand Institute, 1 have the honour to forward, for your information, an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Board held on the 7th instant, the Hon. W. !!. I). Mantell. M.L.C., in the chair. "The Manager I.tin before the Board a letter from Mr. C. R. Carter, dated the 22nd January, 1890, in which he proposes to mala' a. donation to the Xew Zealand Institute and Colonial Museum of a collection of published worl relating'to New Zealand. " Resolv* Mr. Carter's letter be entered in the minutes for permanent record. That the offer of Mr. Cat cepted on the conditions imposed, and that the Hoard, on behalf of the New Zealand Institute, desires to record its thanks and its high appreciation of the value of the gift which he thus makes, and of the great ability and industry which the acquisition and collation of such a. complete collection of special literature musl have entailed. "The Board thoroughly recognises that the liberal action of the donor, and the nature of the •conditions he has imposed with the gift, prove that the motive which led Mr. Carter to accumulate this unique collection of rare works was purely the desire to secure a sound basis for the future study of the earl\ history of this colony, a, motive which is alike worthy of the donor's intelligence aial generosity. " That a copy of this resolution he transmitted to Mr. Carter." I have, etc., J. Hector, C. R. Carter, Esq., Wellington. Manager. Ipproximate Cost o/ Paper.—Preparation, nil; printing (1,800 copies), £1 2s. Bd.]

Uiority: Geoiiqe Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington. —1890.