MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 84, 19 May 1843, Page 3

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Monday, May 8, 1843. (Continued from, our last.) The Rev. J. Woodward had no occasion, as an Independent minister, to say that he and the body he represented were not opposed to the spread of knowledge. They knew that their strength lay in the intelligence of the people, and therefore they were the advocates of every institution that taught men to think. With this view he had long laboured in the cause of education, and was prepared still to go on with unrelaxed energy in the good work. He (Mr. W.) had two objects in view in addressing the meeting, besides proposing the resolution entrusted to him, though that gave him great pleasure. One object was to call attention to the statistics of the report, and show their use. It was desirable to know how many had entered the school, that it might be seen how far the influence of the school had extended upon the popular mind. It was equally desirable to know how many had left, that so they might understand the present condition of their school, and by knowing the times which those who left had respectively remained, they had a test to try the efficiency of their teacher, for if the great majority left within one week, they would see that this is to be traced to that wandering disposition on the part of the children, which brought them to the school, and in like manner takes them away ; but if it was found that they staid a considerable period and then left, they might with-equal certainty conclude that some serious deficiency existed, either in the teacher or the methods he pursued. The trades, &c. of the parents farther shewed the classes of the community which were reached by the school, and gave opportunity to frame the system of instruction so as to be of the greatest service to the children, whose capacities varied greatly, following in a remark-, able degree the intellectual character of thei|g parents’ callings, a striking illustration of which he had seen in two schools under the same teacher, but requiring entirely different management, from the different character of the children's minds. The other object he had in view was to urge upon them the propriety of making theirs an industrial school} Literary education might be taken out of their hands, but the other never could be. They could educate and maintain the children for less than their maintenance cost their parents at home, while the children would acquire that “ handiness" which is so especially desirable in a new colony. The teacher of such a school must be one of a peculiar and selfdenying character, but he (Mr. W.) was sure tfeat the race of the Fellenbergs and Pestalozzis was itot extinct,, and when such a man was found/he would sustain their school, and make it arfrhiament and a blessing to the Colony. He begged to move— That this meeting desires to express its thanks to His Excellency the Officer administering the Government, for the grant of a piece of ground for the purposes of the Institute, and also to the Principal Agent of the New Zealand Company, for the services he has at all times been ready to bestow to advance the general prosperity of the Institution.

J. H. Wallace, Esq., in seconding the resolution, said, that as the Treasurer of the institution, he hoped to have the pleasure of receiving a great many subscriptions at his countinghouse, at the head of the bay. His Worship the Mayor said, that before the resolution was put, he begged to add another little bit of statistics. Hoping that the Committee he had suggested would be formed, he had been calculating, and found that 300 subscribers at ss. would only produce 7 51. per annum, while 300 at 3d, per week would pro-

duce 1 951. per annum. The former sum woiild leave them in debt, the latter would enable them to command the services of a first-fate teacher, but he would repeat that the working nleu must do this for themselves, and not leave their Treasurer to sit quietly at the head of the Bay, but go round weekly and collect, and take him the proceeds. The Chairman observed that there was yet another reason for activity. They professed to have a museum, but they were all ashamed of the one they possessed, but he could tell them that arrangements had been made with Mr. Swainson, by which the whole of his really magnificent collection would be at their service as soon as ever they had a sufficiently scientific person to arrange and exhibit it. If the scheme of the Worthy Mayor were carried out, this object might be attained, and there were many looking on, with the ability to assist greatly, and which they would do, as soon as the institution appeared to become efficient. He had particular pleasure in proposing the vote of thanks to Mr. Shortland, for that gentleman appeared really anxious to repair the error into which Captain Hobson had fallen, being perfectly aware that Captain Hobson was entirely mistaken in the view he had taken of similar institutions. The gallant Colonel then put the resolution, which was carried without a dissentient voice. H. S. KuoWlegs4Ssq., moved, and his Worship the Mayor secotflled, a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which having been briefly acknowledged, arid the nutiSmal anthem sung, the meeting broke up.