THE HASTINGS ATHENÆUM.

Hastings Standard, Issue 333, 28 May 1897, Page 2

THE HASTINGS ATHENÆUM.

[To the Editor.] Sir, —Your local in last night's issue, re prices of books supplied to the Hastings Athenaeum, is a most extraordinary statement to emanate from a paper printed and published in Hastings. Instead of ascertaining the correct and true information regarding my prices you publish a false and damaging statement in reference to my quotations, which the Secretary publicly acknowledged in the presence of your reporter were as reasonable as those of a Napier firm. The sending of public money subscribed in Hastings to a Napier firm for books which could be obtained equally as well here, and as cheap, is a disgrace to all connected with the business. My stock will bear comparison with any in the colony, the supply being replenished every month with all the latest works. If any of your representatives or any members of the Athenaeum committee wish to visit my establishment I shall be most happy to prove to them that the above statement is correct. —I am, &c. W. H. Bowler. [On| Wednesday last a paragraph appeared in the Standard pointing out the injustice of the local Athenaeum Committee sending to Napier for a consignment of books which might have been procured on the same terms through the Hastings booksellers. Yesterday one of the vice-Presidents of the .institution waited upon us, indignantly refuting the statement made, and informing us that the prices asked locally were far in advance of those obtained from Napier. Last evening we merely gave the committee's answer to the statement. If Mr Bowler's contention is correct, and we have reason to believe that it is, then we are pleased that the Standard has been the means of bringing before the public an act of injustice to the local booksellers. We have persistently pointed out the folly of other local institutions deriving their whole support locally sending elsewhere for supplies that could with advantage to all be procured in Hastings. Ed. Standard.]