WINTER ENTERTAINMENTS

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 5, 20 April 1877, Page 2

WINTER ENTERTAINMENTS

[to THE EDITOR tNAKOtBCA TIKES-] Sib,— ln your issue of the- .26th inst. appears a letter from " Melaneholv," advocating the inauguration of "Penny Readings," or some such enjoyable entertainments during the winter evenings. Now the roggestion of " Melancholy" meets my warmest approbation, and it only surprises me that the matter has not been set on foot long since, in a com-* inanity where there is such appreciation far balls, theatres, aad amateur performances. These are good in themselves, certainly, and tend to shake off the monotony of tbe place- while they last; but they are like angel* visits— •• few and far between." Wheceaa She Readings might be held weekly or fortnightly as circumstances would permit. And then the preference for such innocent and entertaining amusements is obvious—especially when the lecture or debate- ia associated with them. But consider what an amount of information and enjoyment they afford-how they tend to develope that hidden talent in our people, which otherwise shall remain dormant, and their beneficial influence must be apparent to the most superficial observer, and cannot help enlisting his support. Nevertheless there seems to be much inexplicable apathy on the part of the Reefton people towards the due cultivation of the 1 mind, and anything of a literary characr

•'•♦■ j^ffirV^ taea*but scantily supi^'^ijSjfi *P^ Atbenaum as an in* | A vjsll&p' •*? *^ c of members, the W^^^W^ *'* Utatmeeir, and consequently W-" "tw^bmbe? and quality of the booki and u 4^f periodicafs. Why an ltHttltftibb of P^^SliM would be a disgrace to, mph and Ins affluent cunan unifies. P^^BAif one inquire as to the cause of this IhlSS** iliibetjrtity'hiHa told that- the ipkjN'"' 1 ' 1 ' Who are. the mainstay- of. such QplpflTul institution*, ar,e too, r*toot« 'from pPNne township, and cannot therefore con* P wniently attend ; but they ■ much inconvenience to themgehrqgiattend *; on other occasions; and not infrequently f nuke noc tarns l visits,: to the Hftwh, and if v ? ° y nofc be ®& le t 0 ?», nour at the , Beading room, or; such,Ji£e recreation P , It strikes me forcibly tfoat it only requires : a few earnest pejlgoff.^ take the matter •\ in hand to bring it to a successful issue. £ What if the Athenseum Committee take the initiative, and let the proceeds go to the augmentation of the funds of that institution P Trusting the above may meet with favorable notice, and that the suggestions of " Melancholy" may not be lost sight of. I am See.,, Reefton, April 18th, 1577-