New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4224, 3 October 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1874.

The proceedings at the meeting of tho City Council this week were of more than usual interest and importance' to the people of Wellington. Primarily, it was noticeable that there was no apple of discord thrown clown by His Worship, or by any of tho Councillors, over which an unseemly wrangle could take place. Wo are fully awaro of the difficulty under which tho business of the Council is carried on ; but it is very much plc-asanter to 1 be able to say that tho wheels ran smoothly than to have to record that there was an unpleasant jar. As it was, business was disposed of, and other of an important nature was set down for next meeting. A very cursory glance at the nature of this will demonstrate the great desirability there was, during the recent municipal election, for the most able men offering themselves to bo returned. 'The question of the disposition of what in largo towns forms part of the sewage must bo dealt with. It is, we are free to admit, very difficult. The presoiit nuisance cannot be continued, Captain Halliday's project seems entirely out of the question, and Dr. Johnson's will engage tho attention of the Sanitary Committee. We should scarcely imagine that there will be much discussion, at the next meet- ■ ing of the Council, upon the motion notice of which Councillor George has given. He, evidently, wants tb>know what value tho Council gets for its money, and what is its stock-in-trade. We presume that, in a general way, every Councillor who has been some years in office has an idea what the property of the Council is, and whatreturn isobtained for the wages sheet; but there does not seem any good cause why a specific return of both should not be constantly available for every .Councillor, who is anxious to look after the municipal pence, to refer to. When once such reports as those Councillor George wishes have been prepared they can be revised with but very little trouble by the Surveyor and the Inspector, for each meeting of the Council, and then, if they are filed in the Town Clerk's office, they can be referred to at any time when a ratepayer may be more than ordinarily inquisitive. In this thero will bo considerable advantage. Tho public is so much more ready to attach general blame to the Council, and to avoid taking any steps towards fulfilling its own share of the duty cast upon every citizen, that it may seem well to afford every facility to persons of an inquiring turn of mind. To those who do not care to search out things for themselves, but indulge in indiscriminate censure, the retort may be made that tlioy might, if they would, give to their grievances a specific form and character. The question involved in the letter received from Mr. Mosley will, we assume, bo speedily brought before the attontion of the people . of Wellington ; and Mr. Mosley deserves thanks for having moved in tho matter. Ho lias done so under the provisions of what is known as the Public Libraries Act of 1809. By this any ten ratepayers may request tho Mayor to ascertain whether tho majority in tho city or town are in favor of a special rate, not exceeding one penny per pound of the rateable value of the property of the place, for tho purpose of founding a Free Public Library. Every ratepayer is entitled to ono vote, and tho Mayor or other governing body to whom tho requisition has been addressed, must determine, after duo notice has been givon the order of which is prescribed, whether the majority are or are not in favor of.the Free Public Library being established. In Wellington, the City Council, or a committee appointed by it, would be tho governing body charged with the, propor expenditure of tho money, and the Act expressly provides

that the governing body may endow the library with Land, and borrow money upon the security of the rate. The method of voting is, of course, the same as that when there is an election for the Council. The Act which, it will be observed, has been inforce four years, hasnot, as far as we are aware of, been yet called into exercise. It has slumbered, with few exceptions, in inglorious rest upon the shelves of a few public buildings. Indeed, there would seem to have been many persons who were not aware of its existence. Why the City Solicitor was referred to, for advice upon the course to be adopted, does not appear. The only clause in the Act that is in the least indefinite is the third, whereby is said that '' it shall bo lawful for the Mayor or Chairman of any governing body," when requested, in the manner described, to ascertain the views of the ratepayers. But this is a very common form in drafting an Act of Parliament. No Mayor, we should imagine, would refuse such a request. It is provided that if a meeting to decido the point be held, no other such meeting could be convened until twelve j months should have expired. Wo should imagine that there can be little question which way the vote 3 of the people of Wellington will be found on such a matter. A Free Public Library ought to be considered a sine qua non in a rising City like this. Public libraries are a most important means of causing people to instruct themselves, and for them to'indulge themselves in with recreation of an intellectual character; and one is specially required in this City. A stranger comes, he must while a few hours away, he has no friends or acquaintances, and whore is he to go to ? To his hotel, or several hotels, as the case may be. A young man is out of a situation, and what is ho do ? The only place of resort open to him is the publichouse, whereas, wore there a free library, he would spend his hours there. At Melbourne there is a magnificent Free Library that it is more than a credit to the City : it is a glory to it. At Ballarat, where there is an Institute of a most perfect' character, for admission to which a subscription lias to be paid, there is also a splendid Free Library. At Adelaide there has long been a Free Library of a very lino character, and tenders have been called for a noblo building that shall have museum and library under one roof. We arc aware that buildings of the character we have alluded to cannot be raised with a penny rate, but if this be resolved upon, assistance' may be calculated upon from various quarters. Wo are not afraid that the merchants of Wellington, who have recently so liberally put down their cheques for the building of various churches, would be less liberal towards a Free Library. The City Council, which exhibited such munificence when the College was wanted would not be backward, we believe, in helping this new project along. For the Provincial Government, which was equally generous in supporting the College Governors, it would be a graceful act to assist in building a noble Free Library in Wellington. And, although a contrary opinion may be expressed, we do not see why the Committee that we hope will bo appointed should not appeal to Parliament for assistance. Of course, the Melbourne Library was built and is maintained with public money. There is not a session passes in South Australia without one member, or more, asking for a vote on behalf of some Institute, in the district ho represents. The votes are granted as a matter of course. The Parliament, to its credit be it spoken, supplements every pound raised by the people of any district to expend upon an Institute. The Committee of each one throughout the Colony receives an annual subsidy proportionate to the amount it has raised, whether this be by soiree, concert, lecture, subscription, or donation. In some town?, where the people take great pride ill their Institutes, a popular company of actors or performers would be looked very coldly upon if they did not do something for the Institute. Considering what is done elsewhere, we say the New Zealand Parliament would be justified in aiding the movement that we hope will go on and prosper. Wo are not dismayed by the idea that other cities and towns might put in similar claims. Lot them, and let the blessings of the education Free Libraries afford, be literally distributed broadcast N over the land. New Zealand will thus become 'the home of the free, prosperous, loyal, and intelligent community we hope to see it.