OPENING OF THE ATHENÆUM.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2184, 7 May 1870, Page 2

OPENING OF THE ATHENÆUM.

Tins Day. At noon to-day, accoiding to announcement, the reading room of the Athemeum was formally opened hy the hon. W. Fox, Premier of New Zealand. His Honor the Superintendent, Captain Fraser, the Speaker, and several members of the Provincial Council, and the members of the Committee of the Institution were present, as well as a number of gentlemen and ladies. On the raot : on of Mr Bathgate, his Honor the Superintendent took the chair, and said lie was surejthat the occasion that had brought them together, was one on which they might mutually congratulate each other. Every one would remember the first Mechanic’s Institute of Dunedin, and it must be matter for thankfulness that they had been spared to see it taking deeper and deeper root, gradually extending its usefulness, and cuhnmat» ing in the substantial and commodius structure in which they were assembled. As one of the founders of the Institute and a life member of it, he felt great satisfaction on the present occasion, and sincerely hoped that the increased facilities provided for carrying out the intentions of its founders would be taken advantage of to the utmost extent. His satisfaction was considerably enhanced by the presence amongst us of one of the most distinguished men in New Zealand, the Prime Minister of the Colony. (Cheers.) Whatever political differences there might be,—whether the predilections or proclivities of those present were towards Centralism or Provincialism, they were all at one in the respect due to the head of the Government when he honored us with his presence. ' Personally he felt proud at seeing Mr Fox present, taking part in the inauguration of what must bo considered a new epoch in the history of the Institution an Institution calculated to exercise great influence for good, and which was so intimately connected with the educational arrangements of the Province with the High School for boys and girls, the School of Arts, and with the hoped for Schools of Chemistry and Mining, and of the Classical and Philosophical Chair. Taken in connection with the jn’esent invigorated scheme, it was not too much to point to the City of Dunedin becoming the Modern Athens. (Cheers.) _ Although from its geographical position it might he precluded from becoming the political capital of the Colony, he saw no reason why it might not be the educational capital. Some one had said, lie forgot who, “allow me to make the songs of a country, and 1 care not who makes its laws. ” He was, therefore, disposed to think that if Dunedin became the educational capital, it matttered little where the political was situated. \ He begged to introduce the Hon. Mr Fox. Mr Fox, M 7 ho was received with cheers, said —It was with very great satisfaction that he had been called upon to make his last appearance in Dunedin at the termination of a very pleasant visit, on so auspicious an occasion as that which had called them together. He had been much pleased in witnessing the marvellous advances made in material prosperity in the twenty years that had elapsed since he first became acquainted with the Province. The improvements had culminated in the establishment of an Institution which would lead to the happiest results to the community. It would not merely have an influence on those who dwelt in

Otago, but in all the Provinces of New Zealand (applause). He wished that in every Province there was such an Institution, but J unfortunately the resources of other Provinces were not so large, nor perhaps were there men equally able to carry out educational plans. There was not in the Provinces so promising and extensive an Institution as that. It had, after being established about twenty years, taken a fresh start, and would no doubt go on increasing in usefulnes as years went on. The object of the Institution was the promotion of literature, science, and Art, all of which were of the highest importance to the development of any people. He need not say to Scotchmen that the advantages of literature were to enlarge the minds of the community. They for centuries past had possessed those advantages. Wh 1 1ever our national prosperity, if the intellectual faculties were not cultivated and mental culture were neglected, we should become a society of money grubbers—of mud rakers—who however wealthy, would soon sink in the scale of nations. He would sooner have them Greenlanders, clothed in seals’ skins and feeding on whale’s blubber, with cultivated minds, than see them in the fertile va lies of Italy sunken in intellect. He was glad to see preparations on so munificent a scale to guard against such a result in Dunedin. As to the cultivation of science, that was absolutely necessary in these days of electric telegraphs, when everything travels railway pace. The Colony could not afford to be behind in matters of science. It wonld not do now to trust to canvass sails, nor to perform our journeys by those respectable remnants of byegone times, Cobb’s coaches. Men must travel at a speed in accordance with their enlarged ideas, and means to this end could only be devised by men of cultivated intellect. A large body of scientific men had found their way amongst us, impelled by a desire to improve their circumstances by contributing their intellectual stores to the good of the community. But the Co’ony must raise up men from amongst the rising generation who can equal and if possible surpass those who came from the old country. It was done in America, and there were men in Australia and other British Colonies who he hoped would surpass the scientific men of the old country. Then, as to the cultivation of Art, it flows from intellectual power. It flourished in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome when material wealth, and the intellectual energy of men’s minds were not to be compared to that of the present day. The development of Art exerted a beneficial influence over all those States then, and will exert an influence over the destinies of men —over their material interests and prosperity —that cannot be too highly estimated. It may appear a small matter to see a number of boys and girls at the school of design, delineating some trifling subject in chalk or blacklead pencil upon a piece of paper, but from amongst them, the talent of one may be developed that may exert a powerful influence upon nations yet unborn. For himself, some of the highest pleasures of his leisure hours had been engaged by sketching the scenery through which he passed. The acquirement of Art would not only prove beneficial in private life, but was of great utility in designing public works. As an in stance, he would mention the model of the beautiful church now in course of construction, which he had no hesitation in saying, would be the most beautiful ecclesiastical structure in New Zealand. It would be a model for the study of all who contemplated its beautiful proportions. Amongst the advantages derivable from such Institutions as the Athemeum, was that of bringing together the citizens for social intercourse, lectures, reading, or for what was perhaps equally beneficial, intellectual controversy. The establishment of an Institution for such purposes was a desirable thing. But the most pleasing thing he noticed in going over the rooms was to find that the male citizens of Dunedin were not going to appropriate ad the advantages to themselves, but that the doors had been opened to the more civilising portion of the community, by whose absence they would have material ly deteriorated and by whose presence the advantages derivable from the Institution wonld be enormously enhanced (cheers). That was the proper course to take. He was glad to see there was to be a college for girls. Men would nev. rbe what they ought to be unless helpmates were provided who were more highly educated than themselves. That was the experience of the United States, and it was owing to that that America had attained its present advanced position iu civilisation Nothing had contributed so much to the advancement of America as exalting the minds of its women —he did not say asserting women’s rights but as bringing the influence of highly-culti-vated women to bear upon the social, political, aud moral status of the United States. He was glad to see the subject had attracted the attention of the Committee of the lisstition, and he hoped it would be fully developed in time to come. He was reminded by the words of Solomon, the wisest of men, that too many words did not conduce to edification. He would not therefore trouble them further; but with every wish for the prosperity of the Institution, he thanked those present for the patient hearing given to him, and for the opuortunity afforded him of expressing the pleasure he felt. The hon. gentleman sat down amid loud cheering. Mr B.vthuatk briefly proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Fox, and took occasion to mention the gratification experienced by visitors to the Art Exhibition in looking over the great number of interesting sketches exhibited by that gentleman. He proposed an expression of thanks by three cheers, which were heartily given; and after a vote of thanks to his Honor the Superintendent as chairman, the proceedings closed.