DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4759, 3 October 1924, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

TURUA. THE LIBRARY. About six years ago a committee was appointed in Turua to go into the matter of a public library. At that time there was a small library housed in an old school building, but as this was unsuitable it was sold and the sum obtained utilised to pay for the erection of the present building, which was to comm!e z morate those men from the district who fell in the war. The site was lent by Messrs Bagnall Bros., who also supplied the bulk of the timber. Up to the present the account has not beten presented, nor has it been paid. From time to time functions were held to raise funds for the purchase of books. No subscription was then charged, and members of the committee, took it in turn to act as librarian. In September, 1921, a permanent librarian was appointed and an annual subscription fixed. As the members of the original committee left the district interest in the welfare of the library died out, despite the fact that the committee exercised its power of adding to its number. Many were called, but the last recorded was one in November, 1921. Since then the business has been transacted by the chairman and secretary, and audited balancesheets have been exhibited on the walls of the library. Up to the present time thle. financial position has been satsifactory, and the number of books has been added to until the total is now about 1600, but this year there is no credit balance and a few accounts for stationery, Iqlectric lighting etc., are overdue. As the committee took so little interest in the library the whole of the work fell on the sfecretary-librarian, who has had to give the matter a great deal of his time and attention. His operations - have been restricted by the lack of proper rules, with the result that such abuses as keeping books out for long periods, exchanging among subscribers, and the lending by subscribers to non-subscribers, etc., have permitted some new books to b'e lost trace of and many people to have the, use of the library Without pavment. As this state of affairs could not continue a public meeting was called, and seven men attended on Tuesday evening. The position was explained by Mr A. P. Gardiner, and Messrs A P. Gardiner, Stephens, F. Goodsell, A. Jensen, and W. Chapman were ap■pointed a committee, with power to add to their number. This committee will go into the matter and reorganise the library, so as to put it on a sound footing. Efforts will be made du-ing the present month to get every book returned, and at th)e, end of the month the library will be closed for a fortnight for the purpose of recataloguing and rearranging. A suggestion has been made that the room should be enlarged by rfa-e moving a partition so that a more efficient system could be adopted, This, and the matter of drawing up rules, wi’l be considered by the committee in the near future A suggestion that the library be opened on one or two afternoons a week will probably be given effect to if a person can be found to act as librarian at those times. ngatea. PLUNKET SOCIETY. The monthly meeting of the Hauraki Plains branch of the Plunket So ciety was held at Ngatea on Wednesday afternoon, Mrs W. G. Hayward presiding over an attendance of 16 members and six children. Application having been made by the Kerepeehi members, it was agreed that the Plunket Nurse be permitted to visit Kerepeehi on Monday mornings, provided arrangements could be made to transport her to Ngatea for the afternoon attendance. Much correspondence in regard to the acquisition of a set of scales for weighing babies having been dealt with, it was decided that the secretary ascertain if a certain set could be obtained for £5 10s. The nurse in her monthly report mentioned having attended 36 members, including six new cases, and all were progressing satisfactorily.