TURNBULL LIBRARY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 235, 29 June 1920, Page 5

TURNBULL LIBRARY

! THE OFFICIAL OPENING • A TRIBUTE TO THE DONOR The official opening of the Turnbull Library, bequeathed- to the nation by the late Mr. A. H. Turnbull, took place yesterday. The ceremony was performed by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. J. Anderson), in tho presence of a number of visitors, including local members of Parliament and representatives of scientific bodies.

Tho Minister said that the 'opening was taking place on the second anniversary of the death of the lato Mr. Turnbull, whoso wonderful library had been placed at tho discosal of the people of Now Zealand. He the gathering to stand silent for a few moments as a tribute to the memory of Mr. Turnbull.

After this tribute had been paid, the Minister said that the library was a most notable • and valuable gift to tho nation. Ho had no doubt that students from every part of New Zealand would take advantage of the mine of historical information that had been placed ait their disposal. The 'southern part of New Zealand had some earnest 6tudente of early history,. who had been stimulated in their work- by the researches of his predecessor in office, the late Dr. R. M'Nab. Other districts doubtless would be similarly served, and"'theso historians would find a mass of material in tho Turnbull collection. Mr. Anderson mentioned other libraries that had been placed within the reach of Now Zealand people, inoluding the Grer collectior. in Auckland, specially rich in splendid editions of the classics; the Hocken Library in Duncdin, containing much valuable material relating to the early history of the Dominion; and tho collections of the late Dr. M'Nab, also in Dunedin. The Turnbull Library, in its wealth of matter relating to the early history of. New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific, was surpassed only by the Mitchell Lihrarr in Sydney.

The late Mr. Turnbull, paid the Minister, had spared neither effort nor money to obtain every availablo_ work °of interest on the history of His native land, and he had gradually extended his 6copo to cover Australia and tho islands of the Pacific Ho had agents in Australia, Britain, and the United States, who were instructed to obtain every work relating to New Zealand history. No book or pamphlet had been 100 small or too obscure to elude his search if it dealt with the subjects in which--lie was interested. The Pacific section of the library was now to be made available to the public, That section contained some 12,000 books. ■ pamphlets, and newspaper volumes. The library, as a whole contained some 35,000 volumes, and outside the Pacific section' it was specially rich in early and choice editions of the standard British authors. The Government had appointed a librarian in the person of Mr. J.' C. Andersen/ who had long taken a keen interest in New Zealand history. Mr. Andorsen and his staff -were now classifying nnd indexing the librarv, so, as -tt> make it fully available to those who wished to study the volumes. The Minister appealed to all who used the library to ' assist in protecting it. The collection belonged to the nation, and every student who entered the library should reeard himself ns one of its guardians. Before lokig. the historical section of the Dominion Museum. Librarv would be housed with tho Turnbull Library. The Government wished to avoid duplication fin matters _of this kind. In conclusion, the Minister declared the library open, and expressed ft hope that it wpul,d fulfil its function by assisting very many people .w their studies. ~ . The visitors wen: shown over the library by the librarian 'Mr. Andersen), the 'advisory director (Mr. C. Wilson), and the staff. They found tho collections .exceedingly interesting, and surprisingly wide in their scope. The Pacific section hns not been allowed to be nf a standstill since the death or Mr. Turnbull, and it includes recently published books dealing with the subjects covered by the section.'