THE AUCKLAND FREE LIBRARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 2, 10 January 1891, Page 18

THE AUCKLAND FREE LIBRARY.

PRIZE ESSAY BY MISS WINIFRED PICKEN. We publish this week a very interesting essay by Miss Winifred Picken, of the Auckland College and Graintnar School. Mr G. P. Pierce offered two very handsome prizes (books) for the two best essays on ‘ Our Free Libraries.’ Those sent in by the girls were far better than those produced by the boys. To ensure complete impartiality in decid - ingthe prize-winners, Mr Walter, principal Assistant Master of the Boys’ High School, Christchurch, was asked to judge the essays, with the result that Miss Winifred Picken was announced as the winner of the girls’ prize (hers being much better written than the successful prize-taker on the boys’ side), and Master W. J. Barclay, of Kaipara, carried off the boys’ prize. We will now let Miss Picken’s essay speak for itself. OUR FREE LIBRARIES. Many people living at the present time are fond of comparing the state of education and the social condition of the nineteenth century with that which existed in the olden time. To what is the enlightenment of the people of the present day due ’ How is it that now men are content to believe the earth a flat surface, and their own country the whole world ’ How is it that now people have travelled to new countries, and have discoveied that their world is but one amongst many ? These results, if not entirely due to the invention of printing, and the consequent spread of books to all classes, have been at least greatly hastened and promoted by them. As books have become cheaper and more generally used, the state of the world has gradually improved, until it has reached its present condition. Seeing, then, what an important part books have played in the history of the world, one of the most important buildings, if not the most important, in a town is its library. Citizens of Auckland are justly proud of their Free Public Library, which would be an ornament and an honour to any city, but especially so to one as young and small as our own. The origin of our present institution, was a library started as a private venture in connection with the Auckland Mechanics’ Institute. In a short time the committee were unable to maintain this any longer through lack of funds, and applied to the Borough Council for aid. This the latter were unable to give, since they had not the control of the insti-

tutfon, and arrangements were therefore made for giving the books and the building to the Council for a Public Library. In a short time the books were transferred to a building in High-street, but this was considered as merely a temporary arrangement, and in 1885 the foundation-stone of the present building was laid, and in 1887 the books were transferred to it, and the institution formally opened. The library is maintained by means of a rate of one halfpenny in the pound levied for the purpose, materially assisted by the interest on a large bequest of the late Mr Costley. The building is situated in a central and commanding position at the corner of Wellesley and Cobuig-streets, and contains, besides the library itself, a large hall, which is at present used as an Art Gallery. This was built on the understanding that Mr Mackelvie, who in his lifetime had given many valuable paintings to the city of Auckland, had in his will bequeathed the remainder of his extensive collection to the Council. Unfortunately, when the will was read, it was found that he had done so, but on the condition that they thould be placed in a separate building erected for the them is the largest and best collection of literature bearing

purpose. However, several Auckland citizens generously gave or lent pictures, and the number of these is quickly increasing, so that in a few years we may have a by no means despicable Art Gallery. Besides this, rooms are set apart for the Municipal offices, while in connection with the library itself is a room provided with all the latest newspapers, with the additional attractions of chess and draughts. A lending branch of the library has been lately opened, and the books contained in this, when not wanted by subscribers, are allowed to be read by those in the reading-room. At the entrance of the reading-room is a vestibule decorated with curious and valuable island and Maori carvings, idols, and weapons, such as cannot now be obtained. These were presented to the library by Sir George Grey. In the reading-room itself the books are placed in recesses round the walls, and works of fiction, history, biography, theology, and science meet the eye, as well as tables and comfortable chairs, where we may at our leisure enjoy the intellectual feast provided. At one end of the long hall is the reference library, greatly prized by students, and just in front of this are tables covered with the latest English, American, and Colonial magazines and newspapers. But most important of all is the collection of treasures presented by Sir George Grey, whose name will ever be held in grateful remembrance by the citizens of Auckland. Here are books, and rare and curious works of art, almost priceless. Amongst on the aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand, as well as the fac-similes of the seals ot New Zealand, New Munster, New Ulster, and the London Zoological Society, illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages, of which there are no copies or duplicates in existence, autograph letters of Dr. Livingstone and other celebrities which have never been published, and a copy of the Septuagint Bible, the only relic which survived the destruction of the celebrated library of Alexandria. These treasures help to make our library the finest in New Zealand, and one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere.

Many people entertain doubts as to whether a library is wholly advantageous to a community or whether it has not certain disadvantages. It is argued that a miscellaneous library encourages the habit of desultory reading, and of what has been called * browsing amongst books,’ and that this weakens the mind more than doing nothing. Ruskin says that * a book is worth nothing until it has been read and re-read, and loved and loved again, and marked, so that you can refer to the passage you want. ’ But we cannot always be reading the best and greatest books of our lan-

guage, and if we often read works which ate not numbered amongst the most instructive or the best, and take up a book of no particular merit merely to while away the time, surely we cannot be blamed for this. It is the same in reading as in conversation. Friendly chat forms nc inconsiderable portion of our daily intercourse with others, and we must all of us, sometimes at least, feel with the poet Longfellow that we should like to read something, ‘ Not from the grand old masters. Not from the bards sublime. Whose distant footsteps echo Through the corridors of time.’ Our lives would, indeed, be dull and dreary were we to be debarred from this verv harmless amusement, and it may often happen that it is these same harmless amusements that prevent us from becoming gloomy and spiritless, perhaps in some,cases from a worse fate. The well-lit readingroom, with its enticing book-lined walls, or the cheerful newspaper-room, with its additional attractions of chess and draughts, may often prove a blessing in pioviding for men and boys a rival to the demoralizing streets and publichouse.

But no one can deny that there are many and great’benefits to be derived from a Free Public Library. It provides for the student who, through lack of means, could not afford to buy the books needed to help him, the beet and latest works dealing with his subject of study, and may thus help poor students, and there are many in Auckland, to attain the great aim and desire of their lives. A library may be of especial benefit in a town situated, as Auckland 1 is, m the midst of farming and mining districts. From thelatest scientific journals the farmer may learn the best and least expensive ways of tilling the ground, of obtaining good crops, and of breeding cattle and sheep, and so in this way the commercial prosperity of our country is increased. These same journals may also teach the newest improved methods of treating ores, and of utilising the vast mineral resources of New Zealand. But besides affording great commercial advantages, a libraiy may prove very beneficial in improving the social' condition of our people. The newspaper provided for the working man gives him an insight into the great social changes taking place all over the world, thus enlarging hisviews, and leading him to take an interest in the questions of the day, as well as awakening in his mind a love for reading and a desire for increasing his knowledge. That reading may be of great value is shown by an anecdote told of Alfred the Great. It is related that his mother promised a book of poems to whichever of her children should first learn it. Alfred succeeded in gaining it, and fom that time a great desire for knowledge incited him to learn from whatever source he could, the result being that he was oneof the wisest kings who ever governed England, and under him the kingdom attained a prosperity which was never known before.

George Dawson lias said_, ‘ A library may be regarded as ■ the solemn chamber in which we can take counsel with all who have been wise, and great, and good, and gloriousamongst men that have gone before us.’ This is very true, for a library is the storehouse of the experience of the best and greatest men of all times, and as such must have a great effect upon our mindsand livesandcharacters, and must provea mighty agent for good—‘ the strengthener of all that is great in life, and the repeller of all that is petty and mean. ’ A keen and eager mind will obtain some benefit from every book, however poorly written, even if it is not what is considered a good book. A library, therefore, has a powerful influence in improving the social and moral condition of all classes as well as in increasing the commercial prosperity of’ a country. - - j Seeing, therefore, what immense benefits may be derived from such an institution, it is to be hoped that such advantage may be taken of it that in the time to come the inhabitants of this ‘ Greater Britain of the South, may look, back with gratitude on the founders of this noble building, and on those who, like Sir George Grey, have given the collection of a lifetime and invaluable treasures for the benefit of the community. In Australia the population is largely intermingled with the descendants of the aboriginal inhabitants and with convict blood; in New Zealand we consist almost entirely of British people, a large proportionof which is formed of the enterprising pioneers of our colony and their descendants. Our country seems therefore to be specially destined to bring forth a race renowned for its strength and its wisdom—a true British race, which, when the older Britain and its people have lost their formerpow er, may stand forth to show the world that the British lion still lives in all his • former glory. In forming a nation like this, our library may hold a prominent part, and perhaps the time is not far distant when our land will contain many such institutions to help in promoting the growth of a nationwhich shall beat no mean part in the history of the w-orld.