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o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock at night. In the Barbadoes, where there has been a Legis- lative Assembly for 200 years, there is also. a magnificent public library of between 60,000 and 70,000 volumes. run by the Government, The librarian is Rev. T. H; Walcut, whose salary is £250 a year. There is also a public library in Trinidad, and also a reading room where the latest newspapers and periodicals can be perused, and books borrowed on payment of a shilling a quarter. This morning I received a paper from North Borneo-I do not want to shook you, but I should say it is disgraceful for Hongkong not to have a public library- but in the paper I got this morning there is this extract: "I am very glad to be able to tell you that our Book Club is flourishing and not only have we a goodly number of books, but in January next we shall make our half yearly remittance to Mudie, which will be for about two hundred dollars instead of one hundred as hitherto." That is the position I wish in regard to the community in Hongkong. A colony like this, with its 200,000 inhabitants, the hub of the East, should not be in the position it is in regard to recreation and education so far as public libraries are concerned. An attempt was made some months ago to form a library $ and & Bill
was drafted by Mr. Leach for the purpose of incorporation, but unfor- tunately the unofficial members, I am sorry to say, did not see their way to vote for it. I do not know why, but I am glad to see I have a very powerful man on my right (Hon. T. H. Whitehead) who will be able to convince them that they were utterly in the wrong. Even if they were not in the wrong I must say, so far as I am concerned, the Government- the official phalanx-would be perfectly justified in running a measure of this sort through the Council. (Applause). I am glad to see that Mr. Whitehead shares that statement. Even if we do not run a Bill I think you ought to insist on the unofficial members voting $3,000 or $4,000 a year for the support of this in stitution, which cannot fail to be of great public use to the residents of Hongkong. I am very sorry that the father of this institution. Dr. Cantlie, is absent, but its nurse is here (Laughter and applause).
The Rev. R. F. COBBOLD-I believe that nurses are generally gifted with fairly long tongnes, and are at any rate able to babble with infants in arms; but I must say I came here to-day quite unprepared to speak, because I thought that the father of the public library would be able to be here to say everything in its favour. No man can take Dr. Cantlie's place and I am afraid we shall lose a great deal to-day by his absence. I regret very much the cause of his absence, which we all know. He is very unwell indeed, and from what I saw of him a quarter of an hour ago is quite unable to do what he would like to do. His Excellency has laid upon me the light burden of telling you where the Hongkong Public Library is. The room in which it exists is not sufficient to accommodate even this small meeting in addition to the books which are there. It is situated on the same floor as Dr. Cantlie's office, which perhaps some of us know too well. Probably as soon as the new consignment of books comes from home we shall need larger premises. This will be taken into consideration, because of course it will necessitate a certain outlay of expenditure. I was not prepared to tell you the history of the library, and I think most people have a fair idea of its birth and bringing up. You know it started in the Odd Volumes Society's rooms. It very soon became, at any rate it gave promise of be- coming, too large in its developments and so the committee of the Odd Volumes Society handed over the library to three trustees and asked the existing sub-committee of the library to con- tinue the executive work of it. The library consists, as his Excellency has said, of nearly 2,000 books, which will shortly be augmented by a consignment from home. What is now needed is public support. I do not mean that more readers are needed, though no doubt more will come, but we want something that will help to support the library. The library has shown during the last few months that it is able to support itself, and if we can, shall I say, make up arrears and if we can once get a fair number of books and if possible a suitable
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
residence built for them, the library can then be self supporting by subscriptions from readers and, as we sincerely hope, a grant from the Government. You may say as we have a couple of thousand books and have had certain expenses and the library going on for some time, how have we paid for that? Well, we are indebted to several gentlemen, some of whom are present here, for handsome donations, and hope we shall be able to persuade other residents in the colony to subscribe in the same way. Most of all we are indebted to Dr. Cantlie. He practically bought the first lot of books, sending home twenty guineas for the purpose, and what with the rent of theiroom, which was his, the pur- chase of some slight necessary furniture, the payment of a temporary librarian and caretaker, some of which money came out of Dr. Cantlie's own pocket, we are really morally indebted to him to a considerable extent. However, in re- ference to that I received the following letter from him :-" Dear Mr. Cobbold.-I am sorry I am not well enough to attend the meeting of the Hongkong Public Library supporters this afternoon. I understand you are to make reference to the indebtedness (pecu niarily) of the library to me. Please inform the meeting that I have no intention what
of asking the library to refund the money. As near as I can ascertain I spent about 8500 on initial expenses. Will You please ask the meeting to kindly accept this unconditionally? The library is now an established success, and the unofficial members of the Legislative Council must feel that they were not expressing the true feelings. of the community when they opposed the scheme
ever
on
the
come
here
It
[October 24, 1895.
:
for the erection of the library building which Hongkong should possess. It is a matter which requires much consideration, and I trust it will receive the attention it deserves, and I further hope it will receive the attention of the community generally. Bo far as the public spirit is concerned I have never known any object worthy of support brought forward which has not received support ih every way from the inhabitants of Hongkong. I see here many faces assembled, and although those who have
are not many in quantity they are in quality, because the public spirit represented here is very great. If those who are here will only put their shoulders to the wheel now we shall not only have a large num ber of members; but the institution will be properly represented. has even been. said that Hongkong is not a reading com. munity. I cannot agree with that. I have never come across such a well informed com.. munity; it has been acknowledged as a most enlightened community, and such a standard of intelligence could not have been maintained except by reading. (Applause). Dr. Cantlis is to be greatly thanked for his exertions in connection with the library, and he has been well seconded in his efforts by Mr. Cobbold and, others who have spared neither time nor pains to show those who have tried to throw water on the movement that it was productive of im. mense good in the colony. I feel certain that the library which has been formed is really wanted in the colony. The number of readers who have already subscribed to it shows that the want exists, and I trust that the public- spirited men in this colony will come forward ground that there were no
with subscriptions and that the Government will readers outside the Hongkong Club to
be able to do something towards forming a justify a library. I may say that this state-library and an institution worthy of the name. ment was taken very badly by the British (Applause). population outside the Club; but it was really
Mr. GRANVILLE SHARP said in his travels he was very the means of the library being started, for in Australia some years ago smarting under such a remark the community much struck in noticing that in both large and (four-fifths of whom do not belong to the Club) small towns there were always four institutions. took matters into their own hands with the There was a church, there was a school, there result we know. The library has subscribers was a Town Hall, and there was a Free Library. enough to render itself self supporting, but Therefore he thought that Hongkong was we want the public spirited and the Govern. altogether behindhand. A great many of the ment if possible to subscribe towards buying inhabitants had not the privilege and honour new books and equipping the library so of belonging to the Club; and so this was a question between the haves and the as to make it worthy of Hongkong.-Yours
have-nots; and unfortunately the haves faithfully, James Cantlie." Many people, as
were very much disposed to take very limited Dr. Cantlie says in his letter, say
This reminded you want a Public Library for?" The remark views of the have-nots." was made to me to-day. A gentleman said. "I him very much of the support given to the see you have a meeting this afternoon. What poor by two fashionable ladies who were talking in front of a fashionable confectioner's shop in do you want a library for? We have a very
My dear, we do hear good library at the Club" I said to him, "Well, Bond Street. One said,
so much about the distress, and yet they can get there are twice as many people outside the Club who are not members of the Club who want these beautiful buns for twopence ha'penny each." There was a good deal of this sort of books, and who will read books twice as much on the average as the members of the Club." thing in Hongkong. There was no doubt that He said, "Well, there is a library at the City the want for a Public Library existed. Hall." We have heard that over and over Sunday he found the City Hall Library closed. This was not as it should be. The again, and he did not seem to think that that is
books had been exceedingly well preserved, but not a lending library and that no books had been Не added to the library for twenty-five years. the library occupied a room worth $150 a month, and yet the whole library would not said. "I used to read at home, but I never do so now." (Laughter). Well, I did not say any mere
fetch twelve months' rent and expenses. because I did not think he was competent to say anything at all about it. (Laughter). I hope the people who value a library will make the existence of this library known and support it, and if possible eradicate those erroneous ideas that a library in Hongkong is not wanted. (Applause).
What do
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Like the last speaker I came here for the purpose of listening and not to speak; but as your Excel- lency has asked me to make a few remarks I have very much pleasure in doing
So.
Mr. Cobbold has just informed us that this library has justified its existence. and that public-spirited men ought to support it. As his Excellency has stated he hopes that both official and unofficial members will rote a large sum towards subsidising the library, and I trust that the unofficial members will not show any opposition to the vote when it comes be fore the Council. If I am entrusted with the duty I shall have very great pleasure in moving it, and I have no doubt that the hon. member
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my left (Hon. T. H. Whitehead) will have great pleasure in seconding it. (Applause). I think myself that the Government might give something in the way of a grant of land
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On
Mr. JACKSON was glad that a library had been established. He thought the City Hall library might be made the nuclens of a really good library. Would it not be practicable to get a good room for the library? If the meeting was to be of any use something practicable should be done. Was any resolution to be pro- posed?
Rev. R. F. COBBOLD-It is not proposed to put any resolution at this meeting. The chief object of it was the making of a state- ment by his Excellency the Governor that this library existed. I think Mr. Jackson has per- haps not been informed so correctly as he ought to have been, and I must take the blame upon myself. An attempt was made to amalgamate are now interested the library in which we with that at the City Hall, and the Com- mittee of the City Hall library appealed to, but they did not see their way to effect that amalgamation.
was
The Rev. G. J. WILLIAMS said it seemed to him that the support must come from the Go- vernment, and he therefore suggested that the title of
" nurse be transferred to the name of the Governor himself. It was only from the Governor that they could hope to set. the
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