HELENSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 27 December 1911, Page 2

HELENSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

OFFICIAL OPENING.

On Saturday December 23rd the New Library building erected in com* memoration of the Coronation of King George V,, was officially opened by Mr It. Monk, ex M.H.E., for the diß^ trict in the presence of only a small number of residents, owing perhaps to the opening being fixed for euch a busy day, . i.e., Xmas Eye, which could not bo avoided by the committee as the building had to be declared open and vouchers sent in to claim the Coronation Grant of L 75 before the 31st December. It was on August 6th last when a deputation consisting of Mr A. J? Hill (Chairman of the Library Com. mittee) and Mr C, 11, Spinley (Secretary) having heard that it^ was possible to secure a Coronation Grant for a new library building, waited on the Town Board for that purpose, - when they were informed that a grant of L 75 had been applied for and could be had for building purposes by rais*ing £ for £ by public subscription; The deputation informed tk^Jfoard that they already nad subscription lists out to form a nucleus for a building fund, and hoped to be able to raise the required amount, The Secretary showed title deeds to section which had been acquired some time back as a building site, 75 links by 156, situated at the corner of No. 8 Avenue and Commercial Koad, where the presont building doing duty as a Library now stood. A general meeting of the Public Library was held on Friday, September 6th t when the following committee were elected* to take the matter in hand: Messrs A. J. Hill (chairrran), C. H. Spinley (secretary), C. J. Eimmer. W. A. Laird, A. J. Garry, W. B. Card, E. 8. Masters, E. Driscoll and D. Donovan, Subscription lists were distributed and canvassers appointed; up to November 19th there was only about £40 collected, when the committee learnt that not only had the £75 tp be collected, but the building costing £ 150 had to be completed and officially opened and vouchers sent in with application before December 31st, to enatle them to get the grant, They immediately enlisted the services of Mr J. Simcock to provide plans, which that gentleman did gratuitously, and tend* ers were called for the new building and sale of old one. Tenders were opened on November 30th, and that of Mr Simcock, for £147. was accepted on conditions that the building was finished sufficiently in time for the official oponinjc to take place tq allow for papers to be sent iv befoie the 31st December. The building was commenced on Monday 4th inst. and pushed on by the contractor sufficiently to be opened by the 23rd inst. 4-t the same time Mr 'Simcock collected enough money to add a chimney which was not included in the contract. The committee accepted Mr A. J. Wilson's tender of £14* for the old building, that gentlemen allowing them to accept a better offer of £17 from Mr Bealo, who paid the money in advance. The £75 being in J hand, the committee accepted Mr A. J. Wilson's kind offer to advance the amount of grant, and the building although small will be an ornament to the town, and those who interested I themselves in procuring it well deserve the thanks of the community. The new building consists of two rooms, each 14 x 12, with a lobby iv between 14x6, at the extranet there is a gabled porch, from which a flagstaff stands, the spandrail being shingled. The front of the building faces Commercial Koad and has a very good appearance. On the right hand side is the library itself, in which there' is very greatly increased accommodation for books. The other room has a fireplace in it, and will be used as a reading rjom, as well as for meetings of all kinds. The want of a central place in which all kinds of meetings could be held has Jong beeu felt in the township, and the provision ; thus made for this purpose will be welcomed by all. The building is well* lighted, there being a window in the front of each room, and one on the back end of the lobby, while there.is a glass door with skylight in the front. The inscription over the portico reads: ; " Public Library, erected in commem- ■ oration of the Coronation of King George V., opened December 23rd, 1911." Altogether the new library building will be a credit to the town-* ship of Helensville. The opening was fixed to take place at 2 p.m. after the arrival of the train, by which Mr Monk was a passenger'""' and to be concluded to allow his retui^ by the 3.30. On arrival Mr " MeJPS was met by Atr Hill, chairman of the committee, anu after viewing the' building Mr Monk mounted the steps at the entrance and made a very ap-« propriate and interesting . speech. He expressed his disappointment ar the small audience present, especially on such an occasion as the opening of a library building which was one of the most important institutions in a^ progressive district. He could not.understand why people did not grasp that it was their bouuden duty to their children to have a library well filled with all the best works"oi the age. He would like to impress on the minds of both old and young that a library was a place to receive a good education from the books of the best writers. He hoped the Library would be supplied with gool books, such as Shaks. peare, Dickens, Thackeray, and others,-' by which the minds of the populace could be improved, and spoke of th 9 advantages of being able to study their works. There was nothing like studying the books of tQ9 masters, and it was novev too late to commence ; they would find that their miuds would become familiar with great thoughts!

We do not know the value of books. The trees give all kinds of fruit both good and bad; in books one could s get all knowledge; they were pleasant comrades and kind advisers; the teaching of all things right, in every language and every tongue. The education system was all wrong in its effects; there was one thing they ehoiild teacM—-ethics—the doctrine of morals, moral philosophy, the science of moral <?uty, a system of moral principles, a system for regulating the actions of men—that was a great teaching. Schoolmasters when they got charge of children direct from the cares of mothers should make it their greatest effort to train them ethically, to prepare them for the burden of exeroising their vote for the well-being of the universe. Only 8 good tree can bring forth good fruit. This should be a help to society; r he hoped it would be a benefit to the ■whole communityr No chance should be lost in securing good literature to fill the shelves of their new building; chance should b« lost to encourage /the young people to peruse it. The '' Government annual grant should bo secured, and he hoped that they would be able to get Mr Carnegie's £1000. He congratulated the committee on gettiij^MJie Coronation grant, and the people lor possessing such a nice building, He had much pleasure in declaring the Library open for public use. Applause. . Mr Jas. McLeod, member of Waitemata County Council, said he was surprised at the scanc interest shown by the people of Helensville on an occasion that should have been a red* letter-day foi the district. He contended that the school children a least should have been present, and it was the parents duty if they could Lot attend themselves, to send their children, as the 1 ibrary was for the benefit of the rising generation who ought to be able to look back in after years and cay they were present at the opening of the Coronation Libnry by their forebears. He explained how ' the grant was secured for HeJensville, and stated that the Waitemata County Council had secured grants for Public Halls and Libraries in Waimauku and Albany, both of which had been completed and officially opened. Mr J; Gordon Coates, the newlj elected member of Pailiament for the Kaipara, congratulated the people of Helensville on becoming the possessors of such a neat Library building. He hoped it would be well supplied with literature, and be of service to the district generally. It was an epoch of the progress of the great North. He wished to take this opportunity of thanking all who assisted in putting him into the position which he now held, and' said that he intended to do all in his power for the good of the district, and his one aim and object .would be to so meet his responsibilities that the electors would not be able to say their confidence had been-misplaced. After the National Anthum had been sung.1 and hearty cheers for his Majesty King George V. had been given, those present went into the building and partook of refreshments ■which nad been supplied and laid out by Mesdames D. Stewart, Woodhouse, Masters, Driscoll, Fernley, McEwin and others, and were much appreciated. Mr McLeod again alluded to the poor attendance, stating that not one of tb.6 clergy of the town was present. Although 'the notice was short it showed lack of interest in the welfare of the town Mr Donovan, eulogised the work of the secretary, Mr C. H. Spiniey, who had held the position for somewhere about 30 years, and to whom a great deal of the credit of securing the land i and new building was due. • Mr Spiniey gave a short history of the library from its inception, showing how it had been moved from one building to another, in the early days, until they had secured the small room, which the new Building was to replace. He stated that of the first committee, of which the late Mr Burton was chairman, he was sorry to say all were now gone but himself. Mr Hill thanked those present for their attendance and, Mr Monk for bis able address in opening the building, the ladies for providing, the public generally for subscribing to the funds, and the gentleman who r - advanced the £75 to allow the build- - ing to be completed. He could not blame the people for not attending, as it was a very busy day for most of them, but the committee had no option as the time ay as so short, and if the opening had been left till after the holidays it would have been too late The gathering dispersed well pleased . that something good had been done Sriofoark the Christmas of 1911. TibT- " _ ■