# Municipal and Official Handbook of the City of Auckland, New Zealand/Public Library, Art Gallery, and Museum

AUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1880. Formerly the Mechanics' Institute and Library, established 1842.
PUBLIC LIBRARY, ART GALLERY, AND OLD COLONISTS' MUSEUM, TO-DAY. The progress illustrated in these pictures may be taken as typical of the growth of the City's institutions in general.
PUBLIC LIBRARY, ART GALLERY AND OLD COLONISTS' MUSEUM.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Auckland Public Library was founded in 1880, commencing its career in the Mechanics' Institute. This Institute, which was established in 1842, had filled an important function during the thirty-eight years of its existence, supplying literary recreation for its members, lectures and classes of instruction for the community, when such were not easily obtained, and providing a hall for meetings when no other existed in the City. In it many of the flourishing societies of to-day were born.
Toward the end of the 'seventies tlic Institute fell upon evil days, and the City Council acquired the premises, which were situated in Chancery Street (now Court House Lane), along with the stock and freehold, and re-named it the Free Public Library. At the same time the Council acquired the library of the Auckland Provincial Council, which contained a well-selected stock, including a valuable set of official papers relating to New Zealand. At the opening of the Public Library the stock numbered about 6,000 volumes.
The premises of the Mechanics' Institute, which were then some thirty-eight years old, were not in good condition, and they were also inadequate for the purposes of an up-to-date library. Two years after the ​establishment of the Library, Sir George Grey offered to present his collection of books, pictures and curios to the City, and this generous action influenced the City Council in its decision to erect a building which would suitably house this and other collections.
In 1883 the site of the new building was selected, and designs invited for a Public Library and Art Gallery building, and the plans of Messrs. Grainger and D'Ebro, architects, of Melbourne, having been accepted, the foundation stone was laid, on the June, 1885, by the Mayor (Mr. William Richard Waddel) with much pomp and circumstance, addresses being delivered by Sir George Grey, Sir George Maurice O'Rorke and Sir Frederick Whitaker. The contract for the building was let to Messrs. Malcolm & Price for £21,851.
The official opening of the Library took place on 26th March, 1887, and was again the occasion of an interesting ceremony, in which the citizens took an active interest. The Mayor (Mr. A. E. T. Devore) presided over the gathering which filled the building, and he was supported by representative citizens, including Sir George Grey, who occupied the seat of honour. Addresses were delivered by the Mayor, by Sir George Grey, Sir G. Maurice O'Rorke, and ex-Mayors Peacock, Clark and Waddel, while vocal selections were rendered by the Choral Society.
At the date of the opening of the new building, the stock comprised 15,000 volumes, the increase being mainly attributable to the acquisition of Sir George ​Grey's library. From 1887 to 1898 Sir George continued to add to his collection, enriching it with such treasures that the Auckland Public Library has attained what is perhaps a unique position among municipal libraries throughout the world. The manuscripts in the collection represent specimens of illumination of various schools and books written in Greek, Latin, Coptic, Arabic, Ethiopic and Persian, Italian, French, German, English and Bohemian, and the languages of the Polynesians, including Maori, and of the Aboriginals of Australia. Worthy of special mention are: Lectionarum Graecum (Lessons from the Gospels), a Greek MS. of the 10th or 11th Century (the oldest book in the Library); the Codex Evangelarium (The Four Gospels), bearing the date 1128, also a Greek MS.; the Biblia Sacra Latina, belonging to the 12th Century, considered to be the earliest copy of the Scriptures in Australasia. The finest specimen of caligraphy contained in the collection, and perhaps the finest example of manuscript work in these parts, is the Biblia Sacra Latina Vulgata, 15th Century. The finest illuminated manuscript is the Missale Romanum. Alike for the perfect formation of the letters and capitals, the regularity of the lines, the quality and richness of the red and black inks, the colouring and design of the miniatures and borders, and the brilliant gilding, it justifies the claim.
CENTRAL LIBRARY: REFERENCE DEPARTMENT.
CENTRAL LIBRARY:
Room containing the Grey and Shaw Collections.
​Joseph Banks, formerly in the Brabourne Collection, are documents of historical importance and interest.
The collection of Incunabula and early printed books contains some interesting examples, especially noteworthy being the three Caxtons, viz, Higden's Polychronicon, c. 1483; The Golden Legend, c. 1484; and The Boke of Eneydos, 1490; and two books printed by Richard Pynson—The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer, c. 1493, and Nora Statua Anno I.—XII. Henrici VII., 1497.
Besides Incunabula the Grey Collection is rich in literary rarities, conspicuous among which are The Faerie Queen of Spenser, 1590, 2 parts; the First, Second, and Fourth Folios of Shakespeare, and Shakespeare's Poems, 1640.
The autograph letters, which form part of the collection, are also of importance.
Among other donors to the Library whose gifts entitle them to be mentioned are the late J. T. Mackelvie, who bequeathed a collection of books which contains a large number of choice and rare art works; the late Mr. E. A. McKechnie, whose gifts include a number of useful books in general literature; and Mr. Fred. Shaw, the donor of a large collection of books, particularly strong in dramatic literature. The most important of recent donations is undoubtedly that of Mr. Henry Shaw, who, in 1912, presented his collection, the hobby of a life time, to the citizens.
​The H. Shaw collection partakes of the character of the Sir George Grey collection, containing as it does a number of manuscripts, early printed books and a splendid collection of works in general literature in best copies. It is especially strong in specimens of Oriental illuminated work, in which the Grey collection is deficient; also in Fifteenth and Sixteenth Century printed books, of which Augustine's De Civitate Dei, 1467, printed by Johann Mentelin, of Strassburg, is notable, among other reasons as being the earliest printed book contained in the Library. From many others with outstanding claims we select for special mention the Biblia Latina, 1479, the production of Adolf Rusch, of Strassburg, on account of its perfection of workmanship. Of the modern books, typical is the magnificent copy of The Holy Land and Egypt and Nubia, 6 volumes, by David Roberts, R.A., which has lithographs coloured by hand in imitation of the original drawings. The section of the Shaw collection devoted to art and art crafts is also worthy of special mention. Still another feature of Mr. Shaw's work as a collector is the grangerized books, the Edinburgh Folio Shakespeare, which has over 3,000 illustrations added to it, being the most important, but by no means an isolated example of this form of book-making.
Of monetary bequests the gift of £12,150 made by the will of the late Edward Costley, who died on April 18, 1883, is the most outstanding.
CENTRAL LIBRARY: UPPER LANDING.
CENTRAL LIBRARY: CHILDREN'S ROOM.
​1880 with about 6,000 volumes, it had increased by 1887 to 15,000 volumes, due largely to the acquisition of Sir George Grey's Library. In 1889 a Lending Department, which has steadily increased in popularity, was inaugurated. In 1913 a fireproof room was opened by the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) for the purpose of suitably exhibiting the Grey and Shaw collections.
Library work with children was undertaken in 1917, when a system of school class-room libraries, organised and provided by the Library, was commenced; and in the following year, upon the removal of the Grey and Shaw collections to another room in the building, a Children's Department (reading room and home-reading section combined) was instituted, and was opened by the Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson) on October 16th, 1918. In 1920 a commercial section, which has already proved its usefulness, was inaugurated.
The extension of the City's boundaries rendered the establishment of district libraries a necessity. The first library of this class to be inaugurated was the Leys Institute, which, while forming part of the City's library system, is managed by a separate committee, consisting of nine members, of whom two are trustees of the late Wm. Leys, three elected by members of the Institute, and four nominated by the City Council.
THE LEYS INSTITUTE.
THE LEYS INSTITUTE.
​realisation of the testator's benevolent purpose, Mr. T. W. Leys, a brother of the deceased, and one of the trustees, offered to defray one-half of the entire cost of erecting and equipping a building and to furnish it with a library, on condition that the Corporation provided a suitable site. This proviso was readily agreed to by the City Council, and on March 29th, 1905, the Leys Institute was officially opened by the Mayor (Hon. E. Mitchelson). The building and equipment, exclusive of books, cost £3,234. In 1906 the gymnasium was erected at a cost of £1,524, exclusive of equipment, and in 1908 a new Lending Library building, the gift of Mr. T. W. Leys, was added. The gymnasium was subsequently altered into a hall specially adapted for a Boys' Reading and Recreation Room and Gymnasium. The total expenditure on buildings and equipment has been £6,604. An addition to the Lending Library building is now being made by the Trustees at a cost of about £1,200. Of the 23,290 books in the Reference and Lending Libraries, 16,817 have been presented by Mr. T. W. Leys, LL.D. These include 1,404 volumes on the Fine Arts and 2,072 on the Useful Arts and Trades, which form a separate division of the Reference Library. The total expenditure on the Institute and maintenance to the 31st March, 1922, is estimated at £15,632. The endowment created by the late Mr. Wm. Leys, which is now subject to the rights of certain beneficiaries under his will, is valued at £18,500.
The Boys' Reading and Recreation Room is open free from 7 to 9 on every night except Saturday. The ​number of boys on the roll is 288, including 66 Boy Scouts. The attendance averages about 40. This is probably the largest boys' institute in the Dominion. Mr. T. W. Leys, LL.D., has been president of the Institute since its inception, and the success which it has attained has been due in great measure to his personal interest in and benefactions to it.
Cricket, football, and swimming clubs are affiliated to the Institute.
BRANCH LIBRARIES.
Other branch libraries were established in Grafton at Mount Eden Road (1913); in Parnell, Manukau and St. George's Bay Roads (1913); in Remuera, near Victoria Avenue (1915); and in Epsom (1918), the fine premises formerly belonging to the Manukau Water Supply Board being acquired for the purpose. Each of these libraries consists of a Reading Room, Lending Department, and Children's Section, Epsom and Remuera having a separate room for boys and girls.
A feature of the work of the libraries is the course of lectures and entertainments arranged each winter at the Leys Institute, Grafton, and Epsom libraries, each of which has a hall attached, with a seating capacity for over 300 persons.
Mr. Edward Shillington was the first librarian, and he occupied the position until 1913, when the present Chief Librarian was appointed.
The following statistics give in tabular form the principal facts of the present position and activities of the libraries:—
BRANCH LIBRARIES:
STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1921.
A. STOCK.
| Department | Central | Leys Inst. | Epsom | Grafton | Parnell | Remuera | Schools | Total |
| Reference Department | 44,031 | 13,133 | 96 | 286 | 73 | 143 | — | 57,762 |
| Lending Department | 15,063 | 10,157 | 2,113 | 5,333 | 3,412 | 3,683 | — | 39,761 |
| Children's Department | 1,873 | 1,085 | 380 | — | — | 431 | 4,194 | 7,963 |
| Grand Total | 60,967 | 24,375 | 2,589 | 5,619 | 3,485 | 4,257 | 4,194 | 105,486 |
B. ESTIMATE OF NUMBER OF VISTORS TO THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, EXCLUDING LENDING DEPARTMENTS.
| Department | Central | Leys Inst. | Epsom | Grafton | Parnell | Remuera | Total |
| Reference or Reading Room | 139,853 | 26,013 | 9,018 | 24,846 | 13,539 | 5,708 | 218,977 |
| Newspaper Room | 256,152 | — | — | — | — | — | 256,152 |
| Children's Room | 16,105 | | 7,184 | – | — | 7,691 | 30,980 |
| Grand Total | 412,110 | 26,013 | 16,202 | 24,846 | 13,359 | 13,399 | 506,109 |
C. RETURN OF VOLUMES CONSULTED APRIL 1st, 1920, TO MARCH 31st, 1921
Reference Department.
| Library. | Gen. Works. | Phil. & Religion. | Soci- ology. | Lang. and Lit. | Science | Use. Arts | Fine Arts | Hist. and Biog. | Travel. | Fictn. | Juv. | Commer- cial. | TOTAL. | DAILY AV. | DAILY AV. |
| Library. | Gen. Works. | Phil. & Religion. | Soci- ology. | Lang. and Lit. | Science | Use. Arts | Fine Arts | Hist. and Biog. | Travel. | Fictn. | Juv. | Commer- cial. | TOTAL. | 1920–1 | 1919–20 |
| Central | 3,182 | 7,120 | 7,479 | 11,607 | 7,773 | 17,169 | 7,062 | 9,298 | 6,064 | 4,977 | — | 6,800 | 88,525 | 248 | 240 |
| Leys | 285 | 786 | 531 | 819 | 407 | 1,016 | 582 | 811 | 713 | 340 | — | — | 6,290 | 21 | 23 |
| Total | 3,467 | 7,906 | 8,010 | 12,420 | 8,180 | 18,185 | 7,644 | 10,109 | 6,777 | 5,317 | — | 6,800 | 94,815 | 269 | 263 |
| Lending Department. ||||||||||||||||
| Central | 19,967 | 1,783 | 1,128 | 3,653 | 920 | 1,085 | 933 | 6,100 | 3,043 | 87,586 | 9,186 | — | 135,384 | 457 | 376 |
| Leys | 4,099 | 81 | 59 | 110 | 14 | 26 | 8 | 1,025 | 394 | 32,283 | 4,081 | — | 42,180 | 141 | 108 |
| Epsom | 10,457 | 101 | 149 | 300 | 77 | 63 | 69 | 753 | 753 | 22,345 | 3,893 | — | 38,940 | 132 | 91 |
| Grafton | 5,522 | 53 | 97 | 248 | 40 | 65 | 79 | 620 | 559 | 27,319 | 3,184 | — | 37,786 | 125 | 105 |
| Parnell | 6,671 | 121 | 80 | 191 | 55 | 79 | 80 | 518 | 521 | 18,677 | 3,120 | — | 30,113 | 100 | 78 |
| Remuera | 5,868 | 61 | 127 | 241 | 74 | 63 | 81 | 725 | 783 | 26,380 | 6,161 | — | 40,564 | 137 | 119 |
| Schools | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30,961 | — | 30,961 | — | — |
| Total | 52,584 | 2,200 | 1,640 | 4,743 | 1,180 | 1,381 | 1,250 | 9,741 | 6,053 | 214,590 | 60,586 | — | 355,948 | 1,092 | 877 |
| Total of Refs. and Lend. Depts. | 56,051 | 10,106 | 9,650 | 17,163 | 9,360 | 19,566 | 8,894 | 19,850 | 12,830 | 219,907 | 67,386 | 6,800 | 450,763 | 1,361 | 1,140 |
D. NUMBER OF BORROWERS AND DEPOSITORS AT 31st MARCH, 1921.
| Library | Subscribers | Subscribers | Depositors | Total |
| | Adult | Juvenile | | |
| Central | 1,471 | 210 | 202 | 1,883 |
| Leys | 472 | 53 | 200 | 725 |
| Epsom | 453 | 57 | 7 | 517 |
| Grafton | 426 | 48 | 46 | 520 |
| Parnell | 330 | 47 | 31 | 408 |
| Remuera | 506 | 72 | 20 | 598 |
| Total | 3,658 | 487 | 506 | 4,651 |
| Total last year | 3,054 | 432 | 409 | 3,895 |
THE NEW GALLERY.
THE ART GALLERY. Showing portions of the City Gallery, the Mackelvie Gallery, and the New Gallery.
ART GALLERY.
The Auckland Art Gallery—the first permanent Art Gallery erected in the Dominion—was opened on February 17th, 1888, by the Governor, Sir W. F. D. Jervois, before a large attendance of citizens, Mr. A. E. T. Devore, Mayor, presiding. At the date of opening the contents of the gallery were small, consisting of the Grey Collection, a few pictures by local artists, and others presented by the late J. McCosh Clark, Albin Martin, and the Auckland Society of Arts.
From this small beginning the Gallery has steadily grown until to-day it contains a collection of pictures and works of art, which will compare more than favourably with the galleries of British, American, or Australian cities of the same population, and even with those of greater size. This happy condition is due to the public spirit of many Auckland citizens, who have at various times made presentations to the collections.
The outstanding position occupied by the Art Gallery is due, most of all, to the bequest of the late James Tannock Mackelvie, at one time a resident of Auckland. Mr. Mackelvie died in 1885, and by his will bequeathed his art collection and a large sum of money, in trust, to establish a Museum of Fine Arts for the people of Auckland. Mr. Mackelvie's will instructed his trustees to erect a separate gallery, but the funds at their disposal at the time being insufficient, Mr. J. H. Upton, then Mayor, suggested to the Trustees that the Corporation would erect an addition to the Auckland Art ​Gallery for the purpose of housing the Mackelvie collection. This proposal was accepted by the Trustees, and an agreement was thereupon entered into between the Trustees and the Corporation, which being ratified by the Supreme Court, the Council carried out its undertaking, the gallery known as the Mackelvie Gallery being completed and opened in 1893.
So rapidly did the City and Mackelvie collections grow that in less than two decades the accommodation became insufficient, but with the transfer, in 1911, of the Municipal Offices, which had up to this time occupied rooms in the Library and Art Gallery building, to the new Town Hall, further accommodation was obtained for the collections. Alterations were undertaken with this object in view, and were duly completed, the re-opening of the Galleries taking place on January 28th, 1913, Mr. C. J. Parr, Mayor, presiding, and Mr. Devore and Mr. Upton, ex-Mayors, who had been associated with the previous functions connected with the Library and Art Gallery, taking part in the ceremony. Mr. Upton was now chairman of the Mackelvie Trust.
Still the space was insufficient, and in 1914 the ratepayers approved the raising of a loan of £4,000 to erect an additional gallery, which was opened by Mr. J. H. Gunson, Mayor, on 12th December, 1916. Mr. J. H. Upton delivered an address on this occasion.
The record of expansion still continues. At the present time the galleries are more congested than ever, ​and the question of extra accommodation is again engaging the attention of the Council.
A word on the artistic value of the collections. The Grey collection contains many old canvasses, some of which are reputed to be, and undoubtedly are, genuine old masters: others may be replicas or copies of the originals. The City collection contains a number of interesting British and Continental paintings, including examples of Alfred Parsons, Brangwyn, T. McEwan, J. R. Reid, Terrick Willams, R. Anning Bell, J. L. Pickering, Stanhope Forbes, A. Hacker, Briton Riviere, Harold Knight, Watson Gordon, T. B. Kennington, T. B. Hardy, W. Duffield, Sir E. A. Waterlow, G. Chambers, J. J. Tissot, and A. J. Hanson. The section devoted to New Zealand artists contains paintings by Miss Richmond, L. J. Steele, P. Van der Velden, C. F. Goldie, F. and W. Wright, C. Blomfield, J. Gibb, T. L. Drummond, R. Proctor, K. Watkins, Albin Martin, C. W. Foster, G. E. Butler, E. Spenser Macky, W. Menzies Gibb, C. N. Worsley, John Gully, J. C. Hoyte and others.
The Mackelvie collection consists of two broad divisions, paintings and objets d'art. The latter, collected by Mr. Mackelvie himself, comprises what is perhaps the most valuable aggregation of its kind among Australasian collections. In it are to be found beautiful examples of carvings in metal, wood and ivory, porcelain, crystal ware, mosaics, terra-cotta, enamelled ware, miniatures, antique clocks, watches, snuff-boxes, bon​bonnieres and furniture. The picture collection which, in addition to Mr. Mackelvie's own selection, has been made largely upon the advice of Sir George Reid, P.R.S.A., and the late Marcus Stone, R.A., covers a wide field of Modern British Art. The latest purchases were made by Dr. T. W. Leys, one of the Mackelvie Trustees, while on a recent visit to England and the Continent, his tour on the latter resulting in the purchase of some European artists' work. Among the oil paintings are works by Gilbert, Gow, Logsdail, Julius Olsson, Arnesby Brown, Bramley, Llewellyn, Alma-Tadema, Waterlow, Moore, Blair Leighton, D. Farquharson, S. M. Fisher, Somerscales, Goodall, Hughes-Stanton, Murray, Clausen, La Thangue, Hall, East, Brangwyn, Padday, Turner, and Roche. Of the water-colours, special mention should be made of three exquisite Birket Foster's. Recent acquisitions include examples of Macwhirter, Graham, Herkomer, Bundy, Long, Collier, Munnings, Laura Knight, Spenlove, Roll, Lynch, Dupuy, Dinet, Nicot, Masriera, and Gomez Gil, the last seven being Continental artists.
The original Mackelvie Trustees were Messrs. David S. Murdoch, J. Logan Campbell, Thomas Russell, and Albin Martin. The present Trustees are Messrs. J. H. Upton (Chairman), A. S. Bankart, A. Clark, T. W. Leys, and the Mayor of Auckland, ex-officio.
In addition to the foregoing, the Gallery also contains the collection of Maori studies painted by Herr G. Lindauer, which are a unique representation of Maori life and customs. The value of these paintings, from an ​ethnological point of view, is inestimable. The collection was presented to the City, in 1915, by Mr. H. E. Partridge, who was the patron of the artist.
The Russell Collection of Casts is also housed in the Gallery. They were presented to the Auckland Museum in 1878 by the late Thomas Russell, C.M.G. By an arrangement with the Council of the Museum and the City Council, the statuary has been deposited in the Art Gallery in exchange for the Sir George Grey collection of Maori curios, which has been transferred to the Museum. Neither body has relinquished the ownership of its collection.
The popular esteem in which the Art Gallery is held may be gauged by the attendance of visitors, which for the year ending 31st March, 1921, totalled 148,579 persons.
OLD COLONISTS' MUSEUM.
This museum, which occupies two large rooms on the top floor of the Library and Art Gallery building, was opened by Mr. J. H. Gunson, Mayor, on 22nd March, 1916. It contains a collection of pictures, maps, prints, documents (printed and manuscript), and objects illustrating the history and development of New Zealand, especially the Auckland Province and City. The arrangement of the pictures is chronological, beginning with the discovery of New Zealand by Tasman in 1642, its re-discovery by Captain Cook, and the subsequent stages it passed through from the days of the mission​aries, whalers, and traders until the advent of British sovereignty. The stirring days of conflict with the Maoris, which passed away in the 'sixties, are also well represented. The City's history may be followed in the same way from 1840–70.
The Museum owes its origin chiefly to the suggestion of Messrs. Leys and Shaw, who were impressed with the Early Settlers' Museum, Dunedin. From the time the scheme was launched, during Mr. Parr's Mayoralty, the citizens are greatly indebted to the numerous donors who have presented items to the collection, and especially to Sir Edwin Mitchelson, M.L.C., Mr. T. W. Leys, LL.D., and Mr. Henry Brett, for the time, thought, nnd money which they have spent upon it.
The items contained in the Museum now total 750. The only regret in connection with the Museum is the inadequacy of the accommodation wherein to exhibit satisfactorily the objects of interest which it contains.
JOHN BARR,
Chief Librarian and Director.