CIVIC CLUB.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 215, 11 August 1937, Page 4

CIVIC CLUB.

ADDRESS ON TURNBULL LIBRARY. •The fortnightly luncheon of the Civic Cluh was presided over yesterday by Mr J. B. Purcell, and there was a good attendance of members. The speaker was Mr C. It. H. Taylor, M.A., librarian of the Alexander Turnbull Library, 'who gave a most interesting address. “The Turnbull Library,” said Mr Taylor, “was bequeathed to the people of New Zealand in 1918, and was founded in 1882 by the late Alexander Turnbull, who set out to furnish it with rare manuscript and the choicest literature. His purpose was to record and make available literature which would safeguard the culture of our time. A fortune which he inherited gave him the funds with which he could capture the worth-while books in the world, and his scholastic ability enabled him to do this without being made the victim of vendors of facsimile or reprint literature. Gradually but thoroughly he built up his treasures with literary gems, until to-day there are over 70,000 books in his collection. Mr Turnbull combed the world and delved into every likely nook and corner, seeking eternally to discover and acquire somethin" unique and somethin" worthy of inclusion in his indisputably high standard library. Into the past he searched for books centuries old, for it was ancient manuscript books, etc., which concerned him more than current literature. His attention covered a wide field, and- with remarkable aptitude he sifted the wheat from the tares, building up his library only with genuine works.

“The late Mr Turnbull never married,” continued the speaker. “His first concern was his country, and he wns wedded to books. Of New Zealand books, the library contains the most beautiful collection in the world, while there are 1000 volumes of Maori literature housed in it. “Alexander Turnbull was educated in London and English literature is recorded in 40,000 volumes housed in the library, while Pacific literature is containod in # 30,000 volumes. Ihe high specialisation and intensive work involved in building up bis collection can be gauged from not only the numencal strength but the quality and authenticity of the information collected. “Folk-lore, ancient customs, English

drama, and art also interested Mr Turnbull, who collected 2000 original works of New Zealand artists, while his 'history of English drama is contained in the strongest collection in the Southern Hemisphere.” Referring to methods used in examining ancient chronicles, Mr Taylor went on to stress the necessity for a knowledge’ of printing and type, and the detection of fictitious writings prepared by unscrupulous authors to obtain fabulous prices. Book-binding was also a study which had led to discoveries. Concluding, Mr Taylor said that the Turnbull Library aimed at sustaining or perpetuating New Zealand’s cultural heritage. A vote of thanks, moved by Mr T. Mills, was enthusiastically carried to the speaker.