VALUABLE PAPERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1069, 5 September 1930, Page 10

VALUABLE PAPERS

WILLIAMSON COLLECTION FOR JLIBRARY COMMEMORATING JUBILEE Many interesting details of affairs in Auckland from 1841 to the 1880’s are contained in a valuable collection of newspapers and periodicals bequeathed to the Auckland Public Library. The sift, was made by the trustees in the estate of the late Charles Williamson—Messrs. C. R., F. TI. and .T. W. Williamson—in commemoration of the jubilee of the library. The late Mr. Charles Williamson, whose sons figure prominently in public life in Auckland today, was for a time a war correspondent for one of the early newspapers published here. “The historical importance of these early papers makes the gift one of outstanding importance,” said Mr. John Barr, Chief City Librarian, this morning. “As it is associated with the jubilee of the library, it may cause others who have similar papers in their possession to hand them over to the safe-keeping of the Public Library, and so place them at the use and disposal of students of New Zealand’s early history.” The Williamson papers, as no doubt they will be called, will fill in the lacunae in the files of the present collection of papers in the library. Auckland is particularly strong in its collection of New Zealand papers of the early periods, and the latest gift will almost double both their interest and value. Included in the gift is a map signed by Richard Todd, F.R.G.S., which was drawn in the 1860’s. It shows the area situated between the Horotiu River on which were situated the various camps of the Maori and European forces which were then opposing each other. Pikopiko Pa, General Gordon’s camp, a cavalry camp, Colonel Waddy’s Post and a number of other butposts are all shown, as well as some of the Maori strongholds and defences. This map, although not drawn to scale, is of the utmost importance to students of the Maori wars of the ’6o’s. A pencil and. ink sketch, which is signed by D. B. T. T. Hutton, has not yet been properly-identified. It obviously depicts an attack of British troops on a Maori pa. In a covering letter to Mr. Barr, Mr. J. W. Williamson, Mayor of Takapuna, one of the trustees, states that some of the papers, especially an Auckland weekly publication of November and December, 1863, are of particular interest to the members of the Williamson family as the chronicled events of the Maori wars and the account of the proposals of William Thompson (Wire Tamihana) to make terms of peace on behalf of the Maoris were written by the late Mr. Charles Williamson when he was special correspondent at the front for the daily “Southern Cross.” This paper no longer exists. The newspapers cover the period from 1841 to the 1880’s, the majority of them belonging to the lS6o’s. They include a wide range of historical subjects and include the titles of many papers which are now defunct. "From an historical point of view the value of the earlier papers is almost incalculable, as very few of them have survived,” said Mr. Barr this morning. The daily papers of those times j were practically the only sources of | information available. The scarcity and value of the papers can be | gauged from the fact that in the ’4o’s, | only 200 or 300 copies of each paper were printed. Very few of them have survived the passing of the intervening 90 years.”

At present members of the library staff are busily employed in examining the papers and putting them into order. Even a rapid survey of them shows that they contain a great many interesting subjects and probably many hitherto unnoticed facts relating to the early history of Auckland. The jubilee celebrations of the library will begin on Monday evening with a conversazione in the concert chamber of the Town Hall and invitations to be present have been extended to representatives of civic, social and educational institutions. JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS The central library and *all Its branches will be closed at 7 o’clock so that the various staffs will be able to attend the function. The guests will be received by Mr. J. Dempsey, chairman o£ the City Council Works Committee, the Mayoress, Mrs. A. D. Campbell, and Miss E. Melville, chairman of (he Library Committee. Short addresses will be given and the speakers will include Sir James Gunson, Mr. J. W. Shaw, Mr. J. N. Wilson, president of the University College Students’ Association, Miss Melville and Mr. Barr. A periodical bulletin, “The Library Tower,” will be issued to mark the jubilee of the library and will continue to appear at intervals, eventually becoming a quarterly. it will contain much that is of interest to subscribers and readers. The first issue will contain an illustrated history of the library.