New Zealand Spectator AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, May 3, 1851. ANNIVERSARY OF THE WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 600, 3 May 1851, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, May 3, 1851. ANNIVERSARY OF THE WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM.

The anniversary of this Institution was celebrated yesterday evening by a general reunion of its members and supporters ; there was also a numerous attendance of the fair sex, the friends and relations of members, to participate in the recreations of the evening, and to enhance its enjoyments by their presence. Since the last annual meeting several improvements have been made in the budding, the external plastering has been finished, the interior of the large room has been much improved, and a wing has been added to the building. The room was

tastefully decorated, and was well fill / I the business of the evening was co~- * by the President Mr. Justice in his address to the meeting proceedings of the past year, and d ,| some length on the exertions which 1 been made by the managing Committ i advance the interests and increase the fulness of the Institution. He refer re ? I the numerous lectures which had bee Ji vered, and the interest they had ex -/l the success which had attended the f | tion of the drawing and singing cjjl particularly the latter, and expatiated oJI pleasures to be derived from the cultiv fl of music, which was not only a source] pleasure to those who practised the art J| also the means of imparting pleasure J others by its exercise. Referring fo 1 spective improvements he alluded to the' I tention of the Committee to establish a C J for mutual instruction, and observed tht though it was commonly objected to ft J classes that the members of them being J a level in point of information were like J blind leading the blind, yet their opero was found to be practically useful by stigJ lating the members to fresh exertions J mutual intercourse, and by their exchangJ knowledge with each other on subjyl which each had made the particular ohjJ of his-study. He also referred to the e&| blishment of a class for discussion or, m was usually termed, a debating class, said that although these classes often ledb the discussion of party politics, which fe hoped would not be introduced into thish. stitution, they were useful in forming infes members the habit of discussing public qu& tions with facility, and that some of th leading statesmen of the present day hi when young men, cultivated the art of ph lie speaking in debating societies. Afe alluding with approbation to the introdae tion of dancing among the recreation? ol fered by the Institute to its members (i! though his own dancing days were over)i a pleasure, the enjoyment of which r ( analogous to that of music, hecongratuh's the members on the prospects of the coloi and its rapid advancement in wealth ai prosperity. Seven years ago the Europa population of New Zealand was 13,000, no it amounted to 27,000 persons, having ms than doubled itself during that period. E had no doubt that its future progress wod be equally rapid, and that the Wellingta Athenseum would grow with the gron'h! the colony, and while indulging in the anticipations of its future prosperity, l J could not but feel grateful to the pa™ from the personal interest he felt in itsifi fare, for the support they had already gift to the Institution.

The meeting was also addressed by It Rev. W. Kirton, Mr. Hart, and Mr. W ward. Mr. Kirton dwelt at some lengtho the advantages derived from the diffusioac education, contrasting the former withit present modes of teaching, and the bM this settlement would receive from its® tension, particularly by means of schools having the support of all classes ( the community, as such institutions command the services of the most w" fconlioro <-»»-* *4 DnUllllb- 1 vUmxs&avao, C114V4 TVUUIU piUIIIVVV v—among the children, and be the mes® 6 developing their peculiar, talents. Hart, referring to the co-operative principle, adduced as stance the benefit derived from it ty Athenaeum in the erection of the wii>o j the aid afforded by the Temperance Sps!' and said that, without wishing to particular application of his remarks, differences of opinion arose in a society l these differences were enforced instes I being composed by the majority, duct too often had the effect of cans’ 11 ?, retirement of the minority and d e P rl ,’j the society in which such differences of many useful and valuable membersWoodward dwelt chiefly on the a d van and pleasures to be derived from the vatioh of music. J In the intervals between the select pieces of music were P er^ the band of the 65 th regiment, and ‘ e glees were executed with gr eftt ,a3tC

skill by amateurs, who kindly promoted the enjoyment of the evening by their exertions, and whose efforts were warmly appreciated. The more serious business of the meeting having been concluded, the room was cleared for dancing, which was continued with great animation until a late hour. The refreshments were supplied by Mr. Laing, and the general satisfaction, the result of his excellent arrangements, showed that the Committee acted very judiciously in availing themselves of his experienced aid.