Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/408

 396 The Library. amount expended on the buildings, represents an aggregate sum of about ^"12,000 expended since 1873 out of the rates paid by the citizens for the maintenance of the Library in the chief town of the Colony. During the same period the Government grant has never been more than 200 a year, and that amount only during the last seven years ; the aggregate sum raised having been ^"2,200, against ^"12,000 expended by the city, so that the trustees are perfectly justified in giving expression to their opinions upon the subject when they state that "the library has never received at the hands of the State the support which in every other Australian Colony has been extended as a matter of course to the National Library." The library contains, at the present time, about 13,000 volumes, and is open on all days of the year from 10 a.m. to 9.30 p.m., excepting Sunday, Christ- mas Day and Good Friday, when it is open from 2 till 6 in the afternoon. The largest Public Library in the Colony is to be found in Launceston, which was founded under the title of the Mechanics' Institute in 1842, and now possesses commodious premises and a collection of 18,000 volumes. It is supported by annual sub- scriptions from members augmented by a Government grant of 50. There are, in addition, twenty-four libraries scattered throughout the Colony, possessing 40,000 volumes and receiving subscriptions to the amount of ^"1,208, together with Govern- ment grants amounting to ^700 allocated at the rate of 133. 4d. in the on local contributions. New Zealand. In. New Zealand the Public Library movement has not been taken up with the same amount of spirit that has characterised it in the Australian Colonies ; but there are, never- theless, several important institutions possessing valuable col- lections, and taken advantage of by a large number of readers. Chief amongst these is the Auckland Free Public Library, situated in the North Island, and destined to be the greatest of the public libraries in New Zealand. Formerly known as the Mechanics' Institute and Library, this institution was originally established in 1843, and filled the place of a public library until 1880, when the provisions of the Public Libraries Act were adopted and the Provincial Council Library was amalgamated with that of the Mechanics' Institute, and formed the nucleus of the present library, the management of which is vested in the hands of a Committee of the City Council, with the mayor as president. It is supported by a halfpenny rate, which now pro-