TOKOMAIRIRO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 290, 25 November 1862, Page 6

TOKOMAIRIRO.

(I'ilOM OUll OWN COKRESPONDKNT.) A meeting of a few of the parties interested in the formation of a Public Library for the district was held in the White Horse Hotel, on Thursday evening, John Dewe, Esq., J.P,, in the chair. The chairman said that the meeting had been called to consider -whether something could not be done towards forming a Public Library. In 1855 he received a letter from a gentleman of the name of Hammond, who was about leaving the colony, stating that he was expecting a case of books from. England, and which he would present to the district of Tokomairiro on certain conditions, which were, that they form the nucleus of a Public Library to be increased by donations and periodical subscriptions, p.nd that if these conditions were not, fulfilled he wonld still consider the books as his. Shortly after Mr Hammond's departure the books (in number about 200) arrived, and he (the chairman) kept them in his own house until two or three years ago, being unable to induce the settlers to fulfil the conditions. On the formation of the Mutual Improvement Society, about that time, a deputation from the society expressed their willingness to accept the chai'ge of the books, and carry out the conditions.

The books Avere therefore removed to the schoolroom, he (the chairman) still remaining their librarian and having control of them ■until the conditions of the gift were fulfilled. A short time ago Mr Hammond returned and found that no additions had been made to them, ancl that none of them wereiu circulation. He therefore intimated that owing to the nonfulfilment of the conditions of giit he would resume the ownership ofthe books.

Mr J. L. Gillies said that the books did not belong to Mr Hammond, and that the meeting had no business Avith them, as the Mutual Impro\ rement Society had fulfilled the conditions. He himself had given two volumes to the library, and Mr Todd had given two others. The society had also had a case made in which to keep these books in, and had voted L 9 to purchase new works, but he did not knoAV whether they had ever been ordered. Mr Jones inquired whether the society was still ihexistencc,"for it appeared that nothing nad been heard of it since the diggings first broke out ?

Mr Gillon thought that an increase of two per cent, in five or six years was a very sloav rate of interest, aad that the addition of four volumes could scarcely be considered as carrying out Mr Hammond's conditions. A very stormy discussion then took place, Mr Gillies insisting that possession Avas nine points of the laAv, and that the books belonged to the society. The chairman stated that he had never given them to the society at all, but had always retained charge of them, as the couditions had never been fulfilled, and that therefore the society even if it existed, which it did not, had no claim to them. Dr Fleming wished the meeting to consider the question of a library quite irrespective of Mr Hammond's books ; but Mr Gillies continued to take up the cause of the unfortunate Improvement Society, and to act on the dog in the manger principle—neither doing anything with the books nor letting anybody else do anything. At length, after a considerable amount of discussion, a notice of Mr Brandon's was agreed to, appointing Mr Jones and Dr Fleming a committee to see the parties connected with the late society, and to ascertain what claim (if any) they had. A motion of Mr Gillon's, affirming the desirability of a Public Library, and pledging those present to support such an institution Avas then agreed to, and the meeting broke up after the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.