THE POLYNESIYN LIBRARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8071, 29 March 1906, Page 2

THE POLYNESIYN LIBRARY.

TO BE HOUSED IN THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL. Messrs S. Percy-Smith, F, P. Corkill, and M. Frascr, members of the Council of the Polynesian Society, interviewed flic Taranaki Education Board on Wednesday, requesting permission lo hqusi: the society's library in the New llymouth Technical School building. I Mr Percy-Smith acted as spokesman, and stated that it had appeared to the members of the society that tho Technical School would have to provide accommodation for a library of its own, and that the Board might, at the same time, make provision for housing the society's library in the same room. The library was a very valuable one, comprising many books and pamphlets, which, bv the extreme kindness of the New Plymouth Borough Council, had been housed in the Town Hall, But the library had so increased that the space there was now altogether insufficient, anil the new additions to the library, received from kindred societies in nil parts of the world, woro now stored at his (the president's) house, and at the residence of the secretary, Mr A\ . H. Skinner. The bqoks inchilled historical, geographical, and ethnological works, besides others of a more general nature, which would be valuable to the Technical School pupils for reference. He did not think there was in all Australasia a library so valuable as this.

In answer to the Board's inspector, Mr Smjth said that at present the books would occupy 2oft of wall space, seven or eight fee| high. He went qq' lo state that this watj a private Hoeiety, \yhich was doing Hit: work of tho Government, i(i|d doing a service to the country, by preserving the ancient history of the colony, As time went on, the interest in the history of the colony before we came to it would greatly increase, and it was then that this liiintry would be fully appreciated, The Chairman said the Board was favorable to granting the application. The deputation thanked the Board, and withdrew.

Mr Monkhousc cousidcred that the society was conferring a privilege on the Board, in allowing tliem to house iu tho school a library of sucli import-. ai|ce of su'clj vaV(e. '4V c\ccid«t to amnio to the request, leaving all details tq he nr* ranged between tho ehairman ot the Boatd aud tUe president of tlio society,