PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 684, 28 May 1859, Page 4

PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times, Sir, —Having in a former communication been so fortunate as to strike a string to which the feelings of the public of Christchurch appear to vibrate in perfect harmony, you will perhaps find room for another word or two from me on the same subject. Referring to a leading article in last Saturday's 'Times' upon the founding of a Book Club and Library, it gives me the greatest pleasure to say that to my humble apprehension your suggestions appear to be extremely pertinent to the matter, and well worthy of the attention of the friends of the movement. 1 do not see how such an institution can be expected to be permanent which does uot embrace as principles in its foundation all that you suggest and recommend. To these also I would respectfully add the suggestion that your clerk or librarian should have some knowledge of booka; upon him and upon the committee of management, which must be selected from among the subscribers, the permanent success of the institution will be found mainly to depend. I think that much arrangement will be required to accommodate the country settlers. They are numerous—able to aid the scheme very much in the article of funds, and, I may-add, from the circumstances of many of them, would be right glad to do their best to forward it if once convinced that they would receive a commensurate benefit. Periodical literature would require its full share of patronage; and really standard new works, and books of reference to a certain extent, ought to be in the library. Old standard works would be a matter of after consideration. The patronizers of the institution must have got learning before, for the busy habits of the settler will not allow him to lay its foundation here; however, he may be able to keep up what he has got and to add to it the knowledge of such facts, discoveries and improvements as ; come from tfme to time before the public, so as to keep upon a level in physical and mental information with the rest of the world. There would be advantages in the establishment together of the library, bookclub, reading room and mechanics' institute. Something more, however, would be required in this case, in making provision for the delivering of lectures: I mean discourses from which persons having the necessary preliminary information may really learn somewhat useful. I do not mean ear-tickling discourses, neither teaching anything which the auditors can turn materially to their advantage, nor arousing them mentally to thought and reflection, for the time spent in hearing which there is however this never-failing excuse, that it is at all events better .than tobacco-burning and nobblerizing. I haye, however, an opinion, founded, it is true, on but limited knowledge, that there would be found in the province a sufficiency of well-informed and scientific men, ready to give their time—for that is the point—for the instruction of their Yellowcolonists. It must, however, always be kept in mind that we can derive no advantage from the most lucid scientific lecture unless we possess the preliminary information necessary for the understanding of it.

As a^ sincere well wisher for the sociability, the mental improvement, and the profitable employment of the spare time of the people of Christchnrch and of the country also, I was very sorry to see the formation of a rival Mechanics' Institute advertised in your Saturday's paper. It can do no good and may do much harm to the incipient enterprise. Ido not think that the foundation of such valuable institutions as Public Libraries and Mechanics' Institutes should be in any way influenced by the income to be derived from the buildings in which they are to be held. It is not with the intention of promoting the interests of the proprietors of the Town or of the Odd Fellows' Hall, that these things are now agitating in Christchurch. To end all such rivalry let it be understood that the proposed institution -will erect its own buildings for the permanent and every day use of its own members. I am, yours, &c, A NEW CHUM.