The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1882 Our Library.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 547, 30 January 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1882 Our Library.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 430 p.m. j

Things never turn out so badly,| but what they might have been worse, 1 the proverb tells us. The destruction of our public Library by fire is certainly to be regretted, but after all, so far as the books were concerned, the loss has not been a very severe one. The Ashburton Library has never been whlat it ought to have been. For a jlong period it was sadly lieglected; it was only during the last few months that

the present energetic committee took it in hand and endeavored to render it more worthy of public patronage and support, and that their efforts were beginning to bear fruit is evidenced by the large increase in the number of subscribers of late. But the Library has never b.2en anything but a thirdrate one, :jind it was altogether unworthy of the place. If we are to have another public Library, let us by all means have a good one while we are about it, even though it may take a longer time to laise the necessary funds. In order to ensure the support of the public, the Library must offer that public something in return for its money. Arrangements should be made when the new Library is erected for a pretty frequent supply of new books from Home. A comfortable reading-room should form a feature of the building, and there should be, if possible, a public hall attached, the letting of which for concerts, lectures, and other entertainments would supply the institution with a permanent source of income. The new Timaru Mechanics’ Institute, erected to replace that destroyed by fire twelve months or more ago, is found to answer admirably the purposes for which it was built. It contains a library capable of containing about 20,000 books, a large airy read-ing-room, a very spacious upper room, suitable for balls, concerts, public dinners, or other assemblies, and private rooms occupied by the secretary. This building cost Very possibly. the reader may wish to know where we are to raise the money to carry out all the ideas we have suggested. Well, this is a public loss, and it remains with the public to make it good. We are sure that if a series of dramatic and musical entertainments were got up in aid of the building fund they would be well patronised. A bazaar might be also advantageously started. The success of the last bazaar at the Town Hall should be very encouraging. Perhaps a fancy fair at the Town Hall, with a few shows “ run ” by amateur showmen (forwantof professional talent), a few raffles (with the permission of the powersthatbe)and a promenade concert would be as good a way of raising the wind as any. An exhibition of the kind would run for a week, properly managed, and doubtless the Library Committee, in carrying out such a scheme,, would meet with the ready assistance of the Dramatic Club, our amateur vocalists, and, in fact, all whose aid would be valuable.

We would suggest that a meeting of householders be called as early as possible to consider what had better be done, and to discuss the question of ways and means, site, etc. This meeting would be of great assistance to the committee. Some steps ought to be taken at once to repair the lass the town has sustained. Y;