SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE FREE LIBRARY.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1705, 9 June 1883, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE FREE LIBRARY.

'• A Thirsty Soul" writes to the Editor as follows :—I have read with great enjoyment the speech made by Sir George Ort:y on Tuesday last, and that enjoyjoy went would have been quite unalloypd was it not for its title, " The principles which should guide the people of Auckland in founding a free public library." Suiely this speech, admirable as it is. can 'hardly bo said to dcxl with these priuuples. I have read it twice, and out of eight columns I find that 19 lines are devoted to eulogizing Mcssis Maekehio, Gillies, Russell, Williamson, Campbell, and others, for the paifc they have taken in fosteiing the arts and sciences in Auckland, and the remainder to telling pretty stories about the Queen, Olivei Csomwdl, bir J. He-sche 1, and others, and in cataloguing with ample notes of ndmiiation the many and various gifts to Auckland of the knightly speaker himself. Now this is no doubt \ery proper, and also very charming, but it is not exactly what one expects to find under the above title. It is no doubt very pleasant to hear that Auckland should lead the van as reg-uds culture in the Southern Seas, and offer attractions to people to come and cultivate their minds, and delight themselves with the contents of her library, but it is hardly satisfactory to find that one of the mam attractions consists in being able to read to scriptures in 120 dialects, and to study the ait of spelling as practised in Cay ton's time. I regret to say that but little anxiety is shown to study the scriptures even in the mother tongue, bo I fear the other 119 will perhaps not attract the attention which they no doubt deserve. As for the art of spelling, that is, I fear, altogether out of fashion. The picture drawn by the speaker of men of intellect rushing to Auckland to study in theoiiginal a perfectly w til-known passage in the life of Richard Cromwell is no°doubt very pretty, and might be used with advantage along with other parts of t'lis speech in Cook's touiiit advertisement. Then the Gospel of iS. Luke, in the language of the natives of New South Wales, would also be a great attraction— to the natives of New South Wales, although I have not heard that the author, Mi Therkeld, found it so. Altogether the picture drawn is very pleasant, the only distressing part of it bang that he had to exert some pressure upon the Town Council to induce them to open the library on Sundays, in order that the scriptures might be read in the various dialects by the sailors waiting the port. The anxiety of mariners generally on this point being so well known, it has only to be pointed out to be recognised at once. It is also extremely satisfactory to find, on the best authority, that the Queen of Knghncl now treats men of science with ordinary civility, ami talks to them as if they also werp human beings. It is also delightful for the people of Auckland to be addressed familiarly by one who was invited to dine "veiy punctually at half-past five," in morning dress, with Sir Charles Lyell, who, however, had to break this engagement through being asked by her Majesty to dine with her instead, "if not inconvenient." It is also an evidence of the immense strides made in ciwlisation recently to be told that one of the first things the Queen of England did was to sign her name 500 times quite unnecessaiily. How great, how cood ! Then we are also told that (ill will be able to study the first publication of any part of tire scriptures in the Esquimaux language. Just think of that ! Won't the Esquimaux flock to Auckland ! And, finally, we are told that the only weak spot in our library will be owing to the number of classic authors which, we will not have, as the generous speaker had iv a wealcmoment given them to the people at the Cape. This is very sad. Let us hope, however, that some Campbell, Mackelvie, or Clark will be able to supply the want. Now, sir, no doubt this speech deserved all the plaudits with which it was greeted ; no doubt the speaker deserves the heaxtiest thanks of the community for his wondeifnl generosity ; but surely we are 3till as far as ever from knowing anything new about '' The principles which should guide the people of Auckland in founding a Free Library." Should not the speaker, using one of his own quotations, say, " Inutilis servus Dei," " Unworthy servant of God that I am to have done so little."

A good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters. The first thing to be certain about when a cow or an ox is noticed to be " off it 3 feed," is whether the cad is chewed or not. If the process of rumination is suspended, the case is more serious, and severe indigestion and impraction of the rumen with blood-poisoning is to be piovided for. If the animal chews its cud the trouble is not so serious. In either case five a dose of one pint of raw linseed; oil, arid,repeaj; it the second day. Give ljut little' feed for a few days, and no more • than will be taken; rea/hly, and it may 15e f well to all food for a day or two", exe'epting'a little hay. " Give no whole corn. .A. desire for corn indi,ci te 7 disordered digestion, which is probably'all that is amiss. .' ,[„ ; , , Mogsrs S. Coo'irane and Son will sell at the Land, Mart, Fort-street, Auckland, otvThursday, June S^jt, by oVaer' 6f tfib 1 Registry ft the, Stibfemis' i: Gt)art,>_'-tho land l! and -uuildirites in s Hamilton *Em^ pres¥rftlyj,ocoupied- < by / Messrs