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Know your town – Martinborough Reading Room 1894 – 2019

September 23, 2019 Regular Features, September 2019 No Comments

In December 1893 it was reported that one hundred and fifty pounds (2019 = $29,378) had been raised for a Literary Institute, and that Martinborough (not Waihinga) had wanted a new Library building for some time. In May of the following year it was announced that a Natusch plan had been accepted and the building would be proceeded with shortly. 

Ten months later the building was officially opened with the total cost being two hundred and twenty six pound (2019 = $44,263), considerably more than what had been raised. The Wairarapa paper praised the ‘Posh new Reading and Chess room plus small Library’. Martinborough had a chess club and for the first six years it was really a gentlemen’s club rooms. The paper’s report also noted that ‘the new Post Office building looked drab in comparison to the new Reading Rooms’

The building was officially opened on the afternoon of Thursday 18th October 1894 by John Martin.  In his speech John Martin referred to the efforts of the people in erecting a ‘handsome and commodious library for the district. The building reflects credit on the architect Mr Natusch. The building’s style of a Gentleman’s Club House and it’s being comfortable, completely furnished  and well stocked with papers, periodicals,  illustrated magazines and books’. He also said that great credit must go to the local committee for the Dance and Concert in the Town Hall in aid of Library funds. 

The Library received an entry in the 1896 New Zealand Cyclopaedia: ‘Martinborough Public Reading Room contains Weeklies from all parts of New Zealand. Opening hours 9 am to 9.30 pm No persons under the age of sixteen years may enter the building. Officers J Martin Jnr president, C W Lee (schoolmaster) treasurer, Rev J Lymburn secretary, they under Featherston Roads Board’.

There were regular news items as the library evolved. In 1901 it was announced that one hundred and fifteen pounds had been raised to pay off the Reading Room. In 1905 additions and alterations were made  and Acetylene gas lighting installed. In late 1906 a dwelling was built on. 

The recently formed Martinborough Town Board offered to take over responsibility from the  Featherston Roads Board in 1907 . The deal was closed the following year with the Town Board acquiring the building debt free. 

 Librarian’s duties were listed as: clean rooms, set fires and fill coal scuttles. In 1929  Ladies’ rest rooms were built and care of this also became part of the librarian’s duties. At this time the library had a hundred subscribers. 

On 21st May 1930 quick response from the Fire Brigade saved what could have been a disastrous fire when the ceiling chimney bricks cement had come loose and the roof beams had caught fire. 

The library moved to Jellicoe premises in 1975 and the original building remained unused until 1978 when it was opened as a museum. Initially the Museum only opened on Friday afternoons. 

The building’s hundred years was marked by a visit from the Governor General, Dame Catherine Tizard G.C.M. G. D.B.E. A plaque on the wall commemorates Martinborough’s first Library or Reading Room. (However the dates on the plaque do not correspond). Curiously the only Council record of the Vice Regal visit is a council minutes noting a vote for $200 to cover the costs of the provided afternoon tea.  

Please come and join celebrating the building’s 125 years in October 

Mate Higginson

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