A SEAMAN ON THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.
(To the Editor of the Stab.) Sjk,—l read with pleasure the subject in your leader column of the 24th inst in reference to the Mechanics' Institute, in which you alluded to the floating population What a boon it would be for them if they had a literary institute where they could wile away a few hours. I have been in all parts of the globe, but I have hardly found a seaport of any importance in which there was not a literary institute thrown open to seamen. Even in Shanghai there is a reading room for the especial use of that class. But speaking of these colonies, there is almost in every port a reading room where sailors find a cordial welcome, except Auckland. In Port Adelaide there is a reading room for seamen, and I have never seen less than twenty, or thirty " seamen frequent it <;ver,y Dight ; th& same in Sydney and Melbourne. The librarian of the School of Arts-in Newcastle, New South Wales, is only'too"g'iaa to see seamen come and spend a few hours in: the i eading-room, ,and 1 ana glad to say a-great many go. Dunedin has got a library'for seamen, and e'ven'Lyttelton grants them this privilege. I think it only a common courtesy which these institutions should exeicisa, not only seamen but to all Btrargers not resident in Auckland. It would be a great boon indeed for seamen if they were allowed to use the Mechanics' Institute, seamen of home ships. They come out here in their vessels, and are in the most cases perfect strangers ; the only place they have to. wile away-ari hour isa public-house or some place of amusement if they have got money ; but if the latter is wanting, they may loiter about Queen-street until they are weary of it, and then go on, board. lam quite convinced that spores of seamen would gladly avail.themselves every night of using the. readiDg-room, of the Mechanics' Institute, if permitted. Much good might be done by it, and many a drunken row be prevented.—l am, &., A Seaman.
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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1696, 26 July 1875, Page 4
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350A SEAMAN ON THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1696, 26 July 1875, Page 4
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