MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 271, 22 November 1870, Page 2

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

To the Editor of the Evening Stab,

Sib, —I have been a subscriber to the Institute for more than twelve months, and it appears to me that very little progress has been made towards furthering the objects usually supposed to be intended to be obtamed_by such institutions, viz., a ready and economical means of gaining instruction in various useful arts and sciences by artisans and other classes of young men, whose leisure hours might be thus usefully employed in seeking knowledge which might hereafter be of great assistance to them in their several callings or occupations. Not a single lecture has been delivered, nor a class formed (unless the two-penny hop which is carried on once or twice a week, to the great annoyance of the quiet readers may be considered such) for instruction in any one useful arb, nor has there been, to my knowledge, any meeting open to the bubsciibei'3 at which the state of the finances of the institution has been laid before them, and their opinions asked as to proper and fittest persons to be entrusted with the management of their affairs, and an opportunity given them of expressing their approval or disapprobation of any of the proceedings ; this ought to be done once, if not twice, in the course of the year. A movement, certainly, has been commenced, and I hope with some of these objects in view, the amalgamation or co-operation with the " Auckland Institute." in Princes-street, but I am afraid the cost (£6.ooo—very slightly touched upon at the meeting held on Wednesday last) will be more than can be easily got together in these hard times ; it is, therefore, more than probable that we sahll have to wait some time before that scheme, however desirable, will be carried out; but surely that will not prevent arrangements being made "for establishing one or two classes, and " getting-up," I believe that is theproper term, two or three lectures, so that we may have something more to boast of than " a few newspapers to read and a few novels to swallow." I know that newspaper^ correspondents are " pooh-poohed" by some of the very intelligent members of the committee, but with your permission I will continue to "Agitate, agitate, agitate! " —Yours, &c, Tatt.