KUMARA LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Kumara Times, Issue 218, 15 June 1877, Page 2

KUMARA LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Last evening the reading room of the Kumara Literary Institute was form&ly opened by M< Piioe, Esq., the President of the Society. Mr P. F. Bireh, the Vice President having In a few appropriate remarks introduced.the President, Mr Price expressed the great satisfaction it afforded him to, assist In inaugurating an Institution, of so useful a character as that of which "he had been invited to become the President. It was a very healthy Bympton in a new; community, especially upon the. Ooldflelds, that by spontaneous efforts the means were afforded for mental recreation and instruction. He /was really surprised at the status' to which the society ha 1 apparently' attained, and although as yet they had iio library, they had a collection of newspapers which at the least, would keep readers acquainted with contemporaneous history. He hoped the Institution would prosper, for it had special claims upon public support. It afforded an alternative as between the tavern'and the reading-room, and those who sired to.cultivate their minds could have an'opportunity of doing something in Sat direction: \ He/-'felt greatly, conn pjimented by the society having chosen Aim as its President, and would at all - times- and -on every occasion, .endeavour •to assist It.-

• Mr#. Mentipath, the Hon. Secretary of the Institute, and" to whose efforts its successful start is due, made a statement -explaiiatoTy of the foundation : and 'present; position of the society; Of course, as in everything else, there most be a beginning, towards an end ; they had ventured the " begiritrfng," and, modest as the evidence of their efforts was, he hoped it would lead to greater results. They had already a good reading-room, supplied with the principal Home and Colonial newspapers, and it was intended to' make certain ripr-the building which would enable a library to be fornied. _-; Meantime, ; as the £u|ids of the institute w«re. limited, he suggested thal ; those, ( whp had any spare books might contribute them to the institute and thus found a nucleus of. what he trusted would be erected—a good circulate library. ' "<■"-{ After a few remarks from Mr Price and Mr Bishop, the proceedings---which Were : divested of any special character—terminated.

[The suggestion as to the contribution of spare books is a good one. Any and every person who is fond of reading has one or more books which, ceasing to be of special interest to himself are still capable of affording enjoyment to others; and we are satisfied that the invitation given by the indefatigable Secretary of the Kumara. Literary Institute, will be heartily responded to.]