Capital of the district of Otago. Population: 42,794-Daily Papers.—"The Otago Daily Times," "Evening Herald," "Evening Star," "Evening Tribune."

Athenæum and Mechanics' Institute.

James Paterson, Librarian; John Barr, Hon. Sec.

This Institution, located in a rather overcrowded building, in the Octagon at Dunedin, succeeded in 1859 an earlier 'Mechanics' Institution," founded in June 1851. The page 35 objects of this earlier institution were to found a reading-room, museum, classes for public instruction, and lectures; but it did not prosper. The present Athenaeum, however, seems to be flourishing both from a financial and literary point of view. In February 1884, at the annual meeting, a balance of £66 was reported, after an expenditure of nearly £600 in books, binding, and newspapers, the total receipts for the year having been £1,591, of which £982 were produced by subscriptions. I should think the library must now contain nearly 20,000 volumes, but as there are a very considerable number of novels in 3 vols, my readers must not imagine that the library is really so powerful as its numbers make it appear.

Subscribers have access to the shelves, and, judging by the number of persons I saw taking out books on an afternoon, they must be great readers; however, the books, which came out from home bound strongly in half-calf, cloth sides, seem to be able to withstand the wear and tear.

After the elements of fiction and periodical literature, which seem most in demand, history and biography make a fair show. The arrangement of books on the presses, and cataloguing, is well done, and makes the borrower's work easy; additional space is here, as also in many other places, sadly wanted. There are two reading-rooms, with a large and excellent assortment of English, Australian, and New Zealand newspapers and magazines upon the tables. There is also a small room entirely devoted to works of reference. Mr. Paterson keeps the various ledgers of borrowings, &c., and the stock books and catalogues up to date, with great carefulness, and they would afford some interesting statistics.

The reading-rooms are open every week day, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. The library is open for the exchange of books at various intervals during the day. The Athenaeum was incorporated 7th December, 1870.

A classified catalogue was published in 1881 (8vo, pp. 293), page 36 just the book for the borrower from a lending library in which access to the shelves is permitted. This catalogue has also an index of author's names. A supplement to it was published in 1882; it has sold very fairly well amongst members of the Institution.

There have been attempts at various times, and a good deal of talk about establishing a Free Public Library in Dunedin. So far the attempt has been unsuccessful, and as the ratepayers did not instigate the movement, and as at present there is no earthly reason to call upon the Athenaeum to efface itself, it will probably be many years before there is anything of the kind in Dunedin. From the point of view of the Athenaeum authorities, "The members did not see the necessity of sacrificing their own interests, and those of the Institution they had fostered, to a remote and undefined expectancy of public advantage." Judging by Mr. Barr and Mr. Paterson, the Athenaeum is fortunate in its officers. These gentlemen gave me information, time and attention, for which I am glad, though so long afterwards, to be able to express my gratitude.

Library of the Supreme Court, Dunedin.

Joseph Wood, Librarian.

Mr. Barr kindly took me over this library, which is located in an upper room in the Supreme Court buildings, and is open on all court days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is a long, narrow room, and was formerly used as the Provincial Council Library; but, being surrounded by noisy thoroughfares, it did not strike me as well adapted for study.

There are about 5,000 volumes of reports, texts, treatises, and commentaries, and there is a manuscript catalogue kept up to date. A very neat little printed catalogue was issued in 1874 (cloth 16mo. pp. 57), and I was told that there had been a more recent edition, or that one was shortly to be issued, which I hope is the case. The rules as to page 37 admission, management, &c., of this library are practically the same as at the law libraries of Auckland, Wellington, and Christ Church, of which I have already spoken.

Library of the University of Otago.

William Henning Mansford, Registrar and Librarian.

The University of Otago was founded in 1869; but in 1874 it practically ceased to be anything more than an affiliated college of the University of New Zealand, having surrendered its right to grant degrees, &c.; but by courtesy it is still, and will probably always be spoken of as the University of Otago.

The buildings of the University are very handsome, and I am much indebted to Professor J. Mainwaring Brown, M.A., L.L.M., and to Mr. Mansford, the former for his introductions, the latter for his personal attentions, which enabled me thoroughly to appreciate the position and working of the University.

In 1872 a Free Public Library of Reference was founded, chiefly by public subscription, in connection with the University, and it now contains "about 5,000 volumes which for the most part have been especially selected by the Professors for the use of Students." It is contained in a handsome room, 55 ft. long by 25 ft. wide by 35 ft. high, in which shelf room for 15,000 volumes could conveniently be found. There are some fine portraits in oils on the blank walls, including portraits of the Queen and Prince Albert, Captain Cargill, Dr. Burns, and others.

Though the library is nominally "public," sometimes a month passes without any stranger coming in. The truth is that there is no cultured leisure class at present, and everybody is still for the most part intent on making money. Here is stored the old Provincial Council Library of Otago, which is samll, and but for a few such items as a complete set of the Otago Times from the commencement, possesses page 38 little of interest. There is at present but little attempt made at a scientific arrangement of works upon the shelves. It is difficult to say that the library is stronger in any one department than in another, for neither classics, mathematics, science, or literature are really good; there arc however, some good sets of transactions, and a few scattered works of real value.

The catalogue is at present in manuscript, and I regret to add that there is an air about the library as if it languished for funds and management. I suppose the truth is, that the library has suffered from the fact that the Professorial Board, in which its management is entirely vested, has lately been expending the sum of £42,000 in new buildings) houses for Professors, laboratories, &c., and so has not had time to give any consideration to the wants of the library. However that may be, in the future interests of the University the library deserves and will repay attention. The rules of the library are dated as long ago as 1875, and do not call for any special comment. I hope before many years a printed catalogue may make its appearance and awaken public interest in Dunedin, in what may very well become the not least valuable part of the University.

The Library of the Otago University Museum.

Professor Thomas Jeffery Parker, B.Sc., Lond., Librarian and Curator.

The Museum to which this library is attached is situated in King Street, Dunedin, some little way from the University buildings, and cannot be called handsome; it is however most convenient inside, having a fine central hall with two galleries, and other wings are in contemplation. The library located in the museum, is contained in one of the back 100ms, and comprises about 5,000 volumes, half of which are the property of the University, the other half belonging to the Otago Institute, which holds its meetings here.

The library may be said to date from 1865, when page 39 the nucleus of the present museum was formed after the exhibition. It is open every day on which the museum is open, viz., from 12 to 5 p.m. on week days, and on Sundays and public holidays, from 2 to 5 p.m. The library is apparently under the control of the Otago Institute, whose members are alone allowed to borrow works from it, but it is open to any person using the museum, for purposes of reference and research.

I may describe the contents of the library, by saying that there is a good collection of works on all branches of natural history; and that so far as funds permit, the librarian endeavours to keep pace with the records of modern discoveries in all branches of science. There is a brief printed catalogue, issued in 1879.