A NOBLE GIFT.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16252, 1 July 1918, Page 7

A NOBLE GIFT.

THE LATE MR A. H. TURNBULL'S LIBRARY. BEQUEATHED TO THE NATION. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON. June 29. Tho late Mr A. H. Turnbull, who made a hobby of collecting books and documents bearing; on New Zealand, is believed to have had the finest collection of tho kind in existence. He has l>equeathed it to tho King, to constitute a reference library for Wellington. Tlie conditions of use are left to the Government, which is asked to take the British Museum and the Mitchell Library .it Sydney as a guide. In order to houso his collection, -Mr Turnbull recently built a brick residence, half of which is taken up with the library. _ The late Mr TurnbuTl's wonderful library was tho finest find largest collection of New Zealand records in tho world._ It was practically a priceless collection, as there were books, logs, and papers in the collection that were solo originals. For years Mr Turnbull had been in touch with tho leading London and American collectors, who wero under instruction to secure anything of tho kind on his behalf. His collection of books on early Now Zealand waa unique, and the portfolios of prints and sketches dealing with tho genesis of tho colony were remarkable. Pamphlets wero another feature, and his ships' logs dating back to tho voyages of Captaih Cook were of incalculable historical value. For instance, no liaa the leg of the Adventure, ono of tho vessels of Cook's second voyago to Now Zealand, a vessel which came to grief in Queen Charlotte Sound. For years past, ho had devoted himself to tho compilation of a catalogue of his treasures and their contents on the card index plan, which adds considerable valuo +o tho collection, and should make it of immeasurable benefit to referencehunters. Mr Turnbull was a voracious reader on New Zealand and tho colonies generally, and he was gifted with a wonderfully retentive memory on almost any phase of those subjects associated With his hobby, and this information he was always enthusiastically willing to impart to any serious searcher after tho truth. It is stated that the greater , part of the late Hon. Robert McNab's book "Murihiku" was compiled in Mr Turnbull ? s library, and ether authors have fouticl the Turnbull collection a mino of invaluable information .

Mr Turnbull bequeathed his collection to liis Majesty the King, in terms of a codicil to his will, which set out in formal language that he leaves to H.M. the King all his library, comprising his printed books, pamphlets, engravings, rharts._ manuscripts, sketches, maps, photographs, plans, and pictures, to a reference library in the city of "Wellington for the use" of persons and students interested in the subjects specified in tho library.