NOTES AND COMMENTARY

Turnbull Library Record, Volume 3, Issue 3, 1 November 1970, Page 153

NOTES AND COMMENTARY

Hugh Walpole letters. The Library recently purchased from the Friends’ Hugh Walpole Endowment established by the late Miss J. Tomlinson some thirteen autograph letters to A. J. A. Symons. The letters written during the period 1936-41 show something of this literary friendship but in themselves are of limited significance. However, the purchase is a worthwhile addition to the Walpole collection and is an example of what an endowment of this kind can enable the Libarry to undertake. The March issue of the Record will list the more important manuscript accessions during 1970.

The Alexander Turnbull Library Endowment Trust at its meeting on 1 September appointed Mr A. D. Mclntosh, cmg, to the vacancy created by the resignation of Sir John Ilott. Mr Mclntosh who returned to New Zealand at the end of October has also been appointed Chairman of the Trustees of the National Library vice Sir John Ilott. Mr Mclntosh, during his term as New Zealand Ambassador in Rome, was of considerable assistance to the Library. He initiated the negotiations with the Order of the Padri Maristi which led to our acquisition of a microfilm copy of the New Zealand records of the Order to 1875, and was responsible for the purchase by the Library of the rare set of Busching’s Nuova Geografica in thirty-five volumes.

A feature of the New Zealand pavilion at Expo 70 in Osaka was the impressive arrangement of a series of screen prints prepared by Miss Susan Skerman entitled The Bush Walk. By arrangement with Expo 70 the Friends of the Turnbull Library in April were given the opportunity of selling the only public release of copies of the prints. Ten sets of ten separate prints entitled, Ferns, Epiphytes, Lancewood, Kiekie, Kauri, Rangiora, Karaka, Cabbage Tree, Karo and Toe Toe were available. The Committee of the Friends decided to give a complete set to the Library, and most of the balance were sold within a few weeks. At the annual general meeting of the Friends of the Turnbull Library on 29 September 1970 the report and balance sheet printed elsewhere in this issue were adopted. In reporting on the increase in membership of the Society the Chief Librarian mentioned that the membership had recently passed the 400 mark. Professor D. F. McKenzie who presided was appointed President for the forthcoming year vice Canon N. Williams whose resignation was accepted with regret. The other officers were as follows: Immediate Past-President Canon N. Williams; Secretary Miss M. Walton; Treasurer Miss D. Sherratt; Committee Messrs J. Berry, D. Glover, L. C. Staffan, C. R. H. Taylor, J. Traue, and I Wards, Mrs I. Winchester. A motion expressing appreciation of the service to the Society by Canon N. Williams during his five years as President was carried with acclamation.