Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1895. A MODEL LIBRARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5197, 3 December 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1895. A MODEL LIBRARY.

We would t.liat Mastcrton had a model library, but amongst the libraries of the Wairavapn, in spite of its big library rate, this municipality takes the leather medal. Two steps require to be taken to mako it even presentable. One is the appointment of an export managing committee, the other the expenditure of a reasonable sum on books, Wo should regard one-half of the sum collected annually under the library p rate its a satisfactory amount. A year or so ago tho Council endeavoured to take one stop by appointing an advisory committee, but somo of those who were asked to act in this capacity ascertained that the literary bricks bad to be made without stra)v, and very wisely retrained from an impossible task. We repeat that the library must remain a reproach to the administration until the steps we have indicated aro adopted. A committee of experts, with either the Mayor or a member of the Council at its bead, ought to manage tho library, and a specilie sum—say onehalf of tho library rate—ought to bo placed at its disposal. Tho model library of which Masterton cannot boast is to bo found at Brancepeth, It will be at onco said this is all vory well, but the Messrs Beotham aro wealthy, and liberal enough to ensure the success of suehaninstitution. Messrs Beetham do contribute a handsome annual part to the station library of, we bolioye, twenty pounds a year, but even this amount is less than a fifth of the Masterton Library rate. The success of the Brancepeth Library is largoly duo to the liberality, the intelligence, and enterprise of the employes. Themanagersofitpossess literary ability, business aptitude, Mid a just prido in the work which they undertake. There is a good supply of papers and periodicals, and tho room itself has recently been enlarged and ronoyated at the expense of Messrs Beptham. Most of the men on the station are subscribers to tho library, and appreciate highly tho privileges which they eujoy in connection with it, A catalogue has been very ably compiled (by Mi 0. A, Breuchley) of the books in this institution, and'a printed copy oi $6 samp has been placed at oijrdisIpbsal, from which wo gather that tho officers in ojiaip of the library are £s follows .'—President t Huifh H, Jiectiiain; yico-Prosklonfc.: Hugh Wilson; .Committee.: Mrs Hugh Bqfitham, Miss Liddle, Messrs Micipl Ryan, 'Armstrong, 1 A. swjjpjiley; .Hjn,

Treasurer: Hugh "VVilson; Hon. Secretary: J. Vatican Miller; Librarian: William Richards. The annual subscription is one pound, and proper rules lind regulations bavobeeiiframed, Runniugthrough the catalogue we find all the best writers in fiction strongly represented, the works being new and up-to-date. Thero is very little rubbish iu the collection, and in no instance do we find that any leading author is overlooked. We havo never glanced through a healthier and stronger list in any country library which has como under our notice. Books that are unobtainable in ilastorton are available at Brancepeth. Besides works of fiction there is in the catalogue a reasonable proportion of general literature, poetry and history, but fiction is a strong point, and we only wish-that an equally good library existed in this town.