MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 192, 1 April 1848, Page 2

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

A meeting of the Members of the Auckland Mechanics' Institute, was held on Wednesday evening last, for the purpose of electing Officers for the present year. As neither the President nor Vice- President were in attendance, Mr. W. BuckSandwas called to the Chair 5 and after stating the object for which the meetin? hud been c illed, the members proceeded to elect their Officers, who were uwmimoufcly chosen as follows President — J. L. Campbell, Esq., M.D. Vice-President — Thomas Outhwaite, Ejq. Treasurer— Mr. John M'Dougall Secretary and Librarian— Mr. G. Smith. 1 AuDmms— Messrs. Buckland, M' Farlane, and Selby. Committee— Messrs. W. Buckland, T. C. Hallamore, J. Williamson, C. Robinson, J. M'Vay, T.W. Buckham, W. C. Wilson, T. Henderson, J. Derrom, W. Jervis, T. S. Forsaith, G. Hunter, and J. Selby. As no statement of the last year's accounts had heen prepared to lay before the meeting, the state of the finances could not be definitely ascertained, and the newly-appointed Secretary, Mr. Smith, was directed to prepare an account of the receipts and expenses of the Institution during the year 1847, to be submitted to the Auditors previously to being laid before the Committee at an early meeting. A considerable turn had been expended during the past year in improving 1 the hall, and erecting adjoining rooms for a Library and other accommodation ; but it appeared that the Committee, in order to accomplish the necessary ltnprovementsi were obliged to incur expenses which the ordinary funds at their disposal were insufficient to meet, but which they hoped would be speedily cleared off by the Members' own subicriptions, and assistance which might be reasonably expected liom other sources. The services rendered by Mr. Outhwaite, who vo«. lunteered, at very gieat personal inconvenience, to at(end to the instruction of a weekly vocal class, were not forgotten ; and we have great pleasure also in acknowledging, with the Members of the Institution, on behalf of the people of Auckland, the debt of gtatitude which is due to that gentleman for the interest he has taken in the welfare of an Institution devoted ta the dissemination of useful knowledge amongst the working classes of the settlement. The Chair was vacated under the usual formalities, and the meeting adjourned. The Committee remained a short time for the purpose of devising and arranging the best plans for extending the usefulness of the Institution. Amongst other things it was determined that an effort; should be made to procure the services of a number of gentlemen competent to deliver a seiies of Lectures, on subjects of useful and entertaining knowledge. The following Resolution was adopted, and we understand that the Secretary was instaicted to communicate with several gentlemen of ability in the town and neighborhood, forwarding them a copy ot the Resolution. We trust that the request embodied in it will not be made in vain, but that all who wish to promote the moral welfare of the community, and feel themselves qualified to the task, will make an effort and cheertully respond t j the wishes of the Committee. " That this Committee, having been appointed by the general meeting of the members of the Auckland Mechanics' Institute to conduct the business of the Society tot the ensuing year, are deeply impressed with the impoitancc of putting forth a sttenuous and special efrcut to extend the influence and promote the legitimate objects of the Institute ; and that they conceive a ccuise of lectures on subjects of general interest would be one of tl»e most appiopnate means for accomplishing this end ; that, being persuaded there are many gentlemen in Auckland not only qualified but who would ierl it to be both a pleasure and a duty to assist in any effort calculatsd to promote the diffusion of useful knowledge, the Committee do now, upon, publ'c grounds, moat respectfully solicit their cooperation.''

The arrivdl of the "Lady Denison " after a pcis&ige of sixteen days, has put us iii possession of HobartTown papers to the 11th ult. By this vessel, four out of the live natives of New Zealand, who were transported to Van Diemen's Land for bearing arms against the Queen's troops dining the late disturbances at the southward, are returned liberated, by order of Earl Grey, the fifth having previously died. The bieach between the Lieutenant-Governor and the Chief Justice which has caused so much excitement, does not appear to be quite closed jet. On the 6th March the Lieut. Governor convened the Legislative Council for the purpobe oi re-considering the bill passed to retaove doubts as to the validity and legality of certain of their acts, — which bill the Chief Juotice had certified to be repugnant to the Act of Parliament, 9 Gco. 4, c. B.*, being the Act that they derive their power fjom to make any laws or ordinances whatsoever. The Lieut. Governor

laid before the Council, first, the reasons given by the Chief Justice for this repugnance : and next, the opinion of the two law officers of the Crown, (the Attorney and Solicitor General), directly to the contraiy ; inviting the Council to adhere to the bill as the only means of relieving the colony from the evils of doubt as to the validity of laws hitherto relied upon. The Crown officers had leported that 13 important acts would be invalidated, and twenty-one others open to question. The Council agieed to consider the subject on the 11th ult. The Dog Act which had been deelaied illegal, uas substituted by a measure diiioi eiitly framed, devoting the pioceeds to the lepairsof the public roads. A bill for establishing primary and other schools, is in pi ogress. By this it is pioposed to empower magistrates to enforce the payment of ss. per annum, by every person in the colony, as a school rate. The pioject of tiansferring all the remaining prisoners of the Ciown under sentence m New South Wales to Van Diemen's Land, is, in compliance with the general wish of the inhabitants of the latter colon), not to take effect without fin thei positive instructions horn theSecietary of State.