THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1900.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 40, 1 September 1900, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1900.

What a boon tho Public Reading Room in connection with the Wai mate Public Library has been is now realised by the numbers of people who daily went there I to re^d the various papers placed on the stand. That the Library Committee recognise the importance of keeping this department of the institution in operation is evidenced by their efforts to obtain a room in which to carry it on. A deputation from rhe committee waited on the P.orough Council on Monday night in reference to Library matters, asking, among other things, for the use of the committee room at the Council ■Chambers as a Public Reading Room till other arrangements could be, made. This requeßt, for several reasons, could not be grantod, but it is to be hoped the committee will soon be able to announce that they have succeeded in obtaining premises in which to re-open the Reading Room. Our main object, however, in calling attention to Library matters just now is that the circumstances are favourable to a much-needed reorginisation of the institution. There is nothing to be gained by criticising j adversely the management in the past, further than to voice the geneial opinion that without additional expense and without impairing the efficiency of the Library in other respects much better accommodation and more privileges might have been provided ia the free department in consideration of the Municipal and Government subsides, Prob-

ably the time is not yet ripe for Wai mate to go in foraFre Public Library ; but we think something very near it is possible* It was evident, from remarks made by councillors on Monday evening, that there was a disposition to deal with the Library question in a liberal spirit. It was suggested, for instance, that the Borough might provide a site for the Library in a convenient position near the Council Chambers. The Council might even go furthur. Why fehouid it not, with the- mor.tg.ige money ib is to receive frota the Library Committee, put up a suitable building, as it did aouis years ago for the Fire Brigade. For some years p ist the institution, has been managed chiefly in [be interests' oE the subscribers, but ".he tims has come ' and the opportunity to effect an improvement on the narrow policy of the p.isfc. There should only "be one reading room in connection with the Library. As in other public libraries not only the daily pap Bra, bat the magazines, weeklies, etc., should be available to the general public free. The circulating- department alone should be charged for, and the subscription of 10s a year is not too much. If the present Borough subsidy is not enough to provide what we propose, then it should be increased. In the interest of the town it should have a reading room where not only the residents of the town and neighbourhood may sec the daily papers and the current literatme, bnfc where visitors and people on business having an hour or two to spare miy be able to pass their leisure pleasantly. We believe this'could be done at no greater expense than has sufficed to cairy on the institution in the past, but even an increased subsidy should not deter the, Borough from having this done. Another matter in this connection requires attention. •U last meeting of the Borough Oomvjil the Wat mate Cricket, Club applied for the nse of a room in which to hold a meeting an i the request had to be infused, as it is inconvenient to permit the use of the building outside office hours. The Public Library requires a 'oom for meatings and the Managing Committee, and this room should be available free, or at a merely nominal rent, fot meetings of all voluntary societies" for promoti^c r- r -\ >„'•■ * or social welfare of tb - i * ity, and^ so make r>c ' >'■>, what it ought to be, ,t c<r'»i:\ -. social activity. Much jno>o >^', c^ , be said in support of wha f ' < propose. Oar purpose in \> x , meantime, however, will be Ben < it we can induce the pi;i ,1 of those who have the cou< ■ \ of the Library, to give the -svU subject the attention it d^oi .•

We have pleasure ir urn — ,_ attention to a" letter -<i, „tJ t tion to a letter in another coliirh."* 1 in reference to the burning of tho Timfs office, Oa the* first occasion Mr Smith was uninsured, and lost most of his books and the "whole of his stock, and on tlji3 account he deserves sympathy. The more recent fire destroyed some new plant out- contemporary had obtained, which, however, belonged to Messrs Wilson KroH., and also a small amount of new stock uninsured. As the fues have apparently been the result of incendiarism it is natural thac many people should sympathise with the proprietor of the Time-" and we will gladlxr »ive pubHcil. to any subscriptions forwardei for the benefit of such a fuv We cannot,- however, help v pressing our feelings in regard > borne acts almost as dastardly 0 those of the fire-raiser, V refer to the base insinuation thrown out against certain n( sons iv this town. Not mmcc matters, rumours are af and' vile insinuations v against members of our : I The g«ornds?that we het«"r •>_, I for these suspicions are iv'&

;are purely police " make ups " in or.ler to throw the shadow of a •crime on us. If we can place a uy credence on tho story of the m an in the street, even the clever detectives have been I cackling and pointing their finger ' at a gentleman on outc staff. The public are apt to think that the \ police have some evidence to •work on, and their suspicions are 'liable to carry weight. This is why we object to their veiled hiilts. If sufficient evidence were forthcoming of their mis- • oMtlnct in this respect, we would gi\e certain of the police force a -chance' to prove their suspicions. In writing this, we are smarting, under unjustly ibflictett pains.Every man on our staff is pre-> j paieu to offer himself as a witness 'before any court of enqmry, ami., it is our deshv that -such an en•quiry should be held. "We will do all we can for Mr Smith, but if liib unfortunate losses-ure to be jiiuile the pietext for ruining us in pub'ie estimation,, we doubt -which of tfee villains^ Mr Smith's fi^nil or our 'iien&, is the V/orst. 'TUe rumours that anyone of our •staff had -grounds for doing an ;ill turn to the "Times" are ;absoUitely unfounded, and the ,snggu*tiotts thrown otit .by those wlio ought to know better ure jQicau and contemptible.