The Globe. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 769, 7 December 1876, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1876.

A telegram from Wellington recentlyinformed us that the New Zealand Times had taken exception to the handing over of the Provincial Council Library to the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College. The article referred to is now before us, and as a specimen of utter ignorance and, to apply the mildest term, wild exaggeration, is certainly unequalled in the annals of journalism. The paper referred to is wont on every occasion, in season or out of season, to loudly proclaim its high standing as “ the colonial “ journal,” arrogating to itself the premier position amongst the newspapers of the colony. It is, therefore, somewhat astonishing to find that this self-constituted mentor of the Press of New Zealand exhibits the densest ignorance of a subject with which he should, in the ordinary run of journalistic business, be familiar. Not only this, but in a most unjustifiable manner he makes a fierce attack upon the Canterbury College, raising the class cry of the rich against the poor, and misrepresenting the objects and aims of that institution most completely. Such a course would, even if the allegations made were true, be most injudicious, but when, as in this case, there is not a shadow of truth in them, it becomes a more grave and serious offence. In order to give our readers some idea of the accuracy and extent of the knowlege and information of “ the Colonial Journal ” on subjects vitally affecting the public interest we will quote one or two passages from the article. After emphatically enquiring how Mr v Eolleston can dare to hand over to a corporation, rich at the expense of the defrauded and uneducated youth of the colony, so much valuable public property, the article proceeds thus : —We repeat, “ the whole business of the vast en- “ dowment of this pauper institution “ for the rich—the Canterbury Col- “ lege—while the primary education “ of the colony is starving, is alike “ unjust and mean—essentially mean ; “ and now we are to have another item “ in the catalogue of meannesses. On “ what possible ground can this rich “ and greedy corporation lay claim to “ this public property ? Are they “trustees for the public? Would “ they, if they got it, act as liberal “ custodians few tjw public use ? We

“ do not believe either the one or the “ other; but are quite convinced, if “ they succeed in retaining this “ library, the mean greedy spirit which “ has from first to last inspired “ the whole transaction will soon “ betray itself by shutting the library “ door in the face of any honest poor “ man who might venture to avail him- “ self of it.”

It is scarcely possible to believe that in the compass of so short an extract as that we have given, so much ignorance—we are fain to hope not wilful—and gross misrepresentation could occur. Had it been one of the common rank and file of journalism it would have been bad enough, but for the self-glorifying journal who was, according to its manifesto, to arise as a bright and shining light amongst us, to thus err is indeed a fall. Our readers need hardly be told that the extract above quoted, which is a fair sample of the whole article, does not contain one word of truth. The Canterbury College is open to all whether rich or poor, and every facility is afforded to enable all classes to participate in its advantages. It is not therefore as elegantly put by our contemporary “a pauper institution “ for the rich.” Nor have the Board of Governors shut the door of the library in the face of any one, whether honest poor, or honest rich man. On the contrary, me books have been placed in the Public Library, open free to all classes of the community. As our contemporary seems to lack information sadly, we have much pleasure in setting him right on these points, and also in making known to him what he evidently is not aware of viz., that the Board of Governors are Trustees of the Public Library. It was for that institution — i.e., for the general public —and not for the exclusive use of the body which the New Zealand Times appears to hold in such holy horror that the application was made. We trust the next time our colonial journal writes upon a subject it will take care to know some little about it; even a mere smattering of knowledge and a modicum of truth are preferable to the total absence of either, noticeable in the article referred to.