New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4882, 14 November 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14.

The report of the debate in the Otago Convention on the resolution virtually censuring his .Excellency the Governor, which we publish elsewhere, was crowded out of yesterday’s issue, •We publish with it* to-day a speech-- of Mr. George Hunter in the House of Representatives on the matter which caused the debate in the Convention. We do so because it will bo found that that speech puts the whole question, at issue in the clearest, possible light, and is a complete answer! to the nonsense talked by the nobodies (even in Otago) of whom the great Convention was mainly composed. It will be seen, however, wo, are happy to say, that the few men of mark and good sense who attended the Convention were entirely opposed to the ridiculous action taken by it on the motion of Mr. Db Lautour' in regard to his Excellency the Governor. Notably amongst these was M!r.- Donald Reid, a gentleman whose political reputation and plain common sense have earned for him a well-merited respect throughout' the colony. The vote which was ultimately passed, coming’from the people, it did, was the highest, testimony that could have been obtained to the strict imparpartiality and undeviatiug good sense that have marked his Excellency’s career, as* Governor of New Zealand. '

Ak advertisement elsewhere' notifies that the materialS|-of the' present Athenaeum building are for sale. This is in consequence of the old building haying .become outgrown by the necessities of rthn institution; yet whilst we congratulate the subscribers and committee upon thair resolution' to keep pace with the times, it is impossible to' avoid a certain regret at~seeing a" building which has been' a landmark, 1 as were,- of Wellington forj the. last, t twenty-six, years become .simply" so much old material to bo_, bought and carted away,by the highest bidder. : The institution - in itself presents a record of ultimate progress through trials and difficulties which it"is not uninteresting td trace, and which a penisal of the minute books enabloa us to set before our readers. If seems'tp * havb'rbeen "originally in is 42, under the title of Mechanics’/ .on; the- foundation of 'Port Nicholeoni Library; with; Colonel uWAKS? * field as President; Messrs. iW. SwAiNSOK and-W; Lyon - as r Vice-Presidents,-' Mr; John- Knowles Jackson Treasurer, 1 with'a' Committee T of ! fourteeh r ". The Port Nicholson Library formed by means of books sent blit by the New Zealand Oom-

pany, but the gentlemen wHp / got up the Mechanics’ Institute, and'amongst were Messrs. R. J. Duncan, T. McKenzie, Jonas Woodward, and others, organised the new institution, taking; evor the liabilities and books of the:, .01d,.. Of the nineteen. pioneers m the work of founding the institution hut five now™ survive,— namely, Mr. W. Lyon, who up to last year had. been connected with the fMechanics’ Institute or Athenseum without intermission, and ' Messrs; J. Knowles, J. H. Wallace, J. Woodward, and J; Duck. Amongst those who have passed, away never to return were Colonel Wakefield, Dr. Knox, and Dr. Featherston. At the time of the foundation of-the Mechanics’ Institute, owing to the small population of the settlement, most of .the subscribers were office-bearers, and a school was kept open during the day with much benefit to the then rising generation. The first printed report of the Mechanics’ Institute appeared in May, 1843, showing, an annual income of £34, with a subscribers’ list of 27 names. The committee with the view of increasing the list recommended the lowering of the subscriptions to ss. per annum. The building then occupied it was found, would have to be pulled down, it being only a raupo whare, under the provisions of an Act just come into force —the Raupo Act. In 1844, the subscription was made payable half yearly in cash. The question of a new building seems to have much exercised the minds' of subscribers, and we find the committee “ after great consideration ” recommending the purchase of 4000 feet of boards and 70 pieces of scantling for. the erection of new premises. This idea was never carried out, but the unauthorised reckless expenditure of 3s. for fire and light by the Hon. Secretary was sanctioned. From November, 1844, to June, 1848, the Society went into a state of coma or hybernation, and what property there was in the way of books was stored. The year -1848 marked a fresh starting point. A small building on Kumototo-street was rented from Mr. Stafford at a rent of 6s. per week, and a librarian was appointed at 6s. per .week. In order to meet this extra expenditure the' annual subscription was raised to 10s. About this, time the grant for the land on which the Athenseum now stands was obtained from the Governor, and a vigorous effort having been made, the foundation stone of the present building was laid, with great ceremony, Masonic honors, and all appropriate concomitants. The breaking out of the Californian diggings, however, drew'away a good many people, and it was', not until the 11th April, 1850,. that the present Hall was opened, with a soiree, speeches, and a dance. Mr. Roberts, the then Government Engineer, was the architect. In 1852 the report shows the number of members to have been 138, and the books, in .the library to have numbered 850 ; volumes. Sir George Grey, who was then-President, in an address to themem- . bers, mentioned that there were then thirtyseven kno wnNe wZealand authors, eighteen of whom lived in Wellington, seven in Auckland, and the remainder in other portions of .the colony, In comparison with the present position of .literature it would be curious to note if Wellington still holds a vantage ground. The north wing of the building was added in. 1853, and in 1855 ■ the salary of the librarian was raised to £32 10s. per annum. By 1857 the number of volumes in the library, was 1200, and in that y ear ten lectures were delivered in connection with the institution, the members’ roll standing at 135. Owing to some innate causes in 1859, the number of members fell to 97, and in 1860 a still further reduction took place to 52. In this state of affairs it was not to be wondered at that the committee, quite dispirited, should have come before the members with a proposition to hand the buildings over to the trustees and sell the property to pay the ■ debts. Luckily the proposal was negatived, and a new com- , mittee appointed, ■ who,, by appealing to the public, that'never failing resource intime of necessity, dragged the institution but of its difficulties, and subsequent favorable progress was made until 1867, when the annual report stated that the new year would be commenced with a credit of £ll, and all the old liabilities cleared off. The annual subscription was raised to 20s. From this point until. 1873 the affairs again gradually lapsed into confusion, and in 1873 the committee took office with an accumulation of debt on its shoulders, and only 100 subscribers to rely upon’. This was by no means a pleasant position for the committee, ’ but they 1 set themselves heartily to work to rescuscitate the Athemeum, as it had been called since July 11, 1849, and their efforts were crowned with success, as last year’s,statement showed that there were about 600: subscribers, and a credit balance in the bank sufficient to meet all current liabilities. We may notice that the building was opened for use during a portion of each day from the 27th May, 1862, and from May, 1873, it was opened from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. As,showing the present favorable position of the institution, it may be noticed that in 1873 there were 430 .subscribers and- 4000books in" the library. There are now; as was said above, some 600 subscribers and 6000 books in the library. The members of the present 1 committee having recognised tho_ fact that, to stand still just now 'in regard to the Athenaeum would be in effect, to retrograde, wisely took the necessary steps to enable them to keeppace with the times, and the result will be the addition of a handsome building to our town, which-will for appearance-be able to compare most favorably with other; buildings, larger than' its i predecessor,--which was considered, and undoubtedly ■was, a great undertaking.

The s.s. Arawata,'which arrived at the Bluff from Melbourne yesterday afternoon, ■ brings the inward Suez mail. She may be expected to arrive here on Thursday next, ■- 1 A special meeting of tho Wellington. Districts Highway Board will be held to-morrow r at the Hiitt, to consider tho advisability of taking steps'relative'jjo .the working of the new Counties Act. ; ~ • | A Jail of the barometer commenced in the, South, soon after midday on Sunday, and by nine o’clock yesterday- the glass had gone down nearly | half an r inch, and the weather generally.was threatening from Taranaki i southward. - - -The -strongest - winds - seem to have' been felt at - Wellingtonand the Strait generally.- Much-thunder and>lightning'have been experienced on the West Coast and southern-parts'of the Middle Island.- ! > ‘ ‘ A telegram from the, .Bluff state?.that the’ Arawata,' which 1 arrived there yesterday/m'et ■vHtb a severe gale, during which a portion, of., the' bulwarks was carried away, and three racing gigs wore stove-in; The Wellington Rowing Club expect two boats by.this steanferi'i -we understand, and. it maybe concluded, that' two’of,the"racinggigs' mentioned in 'the tele-;'' gram’ are to the order of thaf club. The Wei;,, .lington Rowing ..Club deservessympathy_in„ -this matter ; ? the boats were uninsured,vfajrdj the -cliib has ’neverappealed to;- thevpublioij The .members really. merit, sympathy ■in Ahciri loss on tbe.prosent occasion, for the club h’aa in, most (big rowing (matches come to the front and upheld the honor of Wellington.

A transfer of the license of the. White Swan Hotel. CJuba-streelv'fromcMr. Andrews to Mr. Bertie, was obtained at the court yesterday. ' .Two seamen and’three' marines belonging to B.M:S. Sapphire were brought ashore, festerday i a{temoon,'hayii>g received sentence t6‘ im■prisonment fofrmsconduct.Two sections of land on the Adelaide-read were soldjat auotion by Mr.'Beauchamp yesterday, the price realised being.26s- per toot frontage—ono of 32ft., and the,other of 35ft; Other town properties were offered, but were withdrawn, as the bidding did' not reach the reserve prices. The principal actor in the tragic scene at Kaiwarra-on Sunday was taken before two Justices of the Peace yesterday, and charged with attempting to murder his wife Florence Coleman. He, was .remanded on the application of the police. The unfortunate woman remains , in a precarious condition, and it is very difficult to say whether she will recover, A meeting of the committee Appointed by the Caledonian Society, to draw up a programme for the sports to be held on New ; Year’s Day, was to have been held last evening at the New Zealander Hotel, but there not i being a quorum pf members present, owing doubtless to the inclemency of the weather, the meeting was postponed until this evening. \ 'From the Whareamia, the’ News learns that the coarse-wool sheep ’are getting into great .favor. From a flock of ewes Mr. Wingate 'took on to his station last-year, he has docked not less than 106 per cent. • Major. Smith, of the Upper Whareama,. has docked 80 per. cent. Messrs.' Partridge and Butters, of the Tiraumea, have not yet docked ; but from all we can learn,' their lambing prospects are very promising,., , The Theatre Royal was well attended last evening, notwithstanding the wretched state of the weather, which was quite sufficient to deter many from leaving their homes. “ Belphegor” was repeated with success, Mrs. Bates and Mr. Collier acting with excellent taste ; Mr. Sam Howard was also Very funny. Tonight “The Shaughraun’’ will be produced, Mr, Collier, appearing :in the title role. He should play , the part .well. No doubt there will be a good attendance! ‘ , The circus was not opened last evening, owing to the very bad ! weather. This evening, however, the company—the dogs, monkeys, and horses being included, of course—will appear, and will doubtless be well patronised, as they ;bave been since their arrival here. Of the popularity of the show, nothing need be said, and the fact of that popularity being well known is plain evidence that the circus is a good one. To-morrow afternoon there will be a performance especially given for families and those who are unable to attend at night. iThere will ialso be an evening performance, the last to be given by Barlow’s Circus Company in Wellington. A narrow escape from drowning occurred at the-Manawatu crossing on Wednesday last. iA Wairarapa paper gives the following particulars :—The river, it appears, rose eleven feet during, the previous evening, and remained in an impassable state during the whole of next day. A solitary swagsman coming in this .direction, and who was evidently a stranger in the place, rashly attempted to get over on foot. Before he had gone very far he got ■beyond his depth, and was carried down stream by the curreht. The-accident was observed by the Maoris, who lost no time in putting off. in their canoes, and after considerable exertion succeeded in rescuing him from what would have been, but for their praiseworthy efforts, a watery grave. When got ashore he was in an exhausted state. From all we can see thesenativ.es have from first to last rendered good service, and we really do not think these services have been at all properly requited. • The literary excellence of Professor Heam’s .well-known “ Government of England ” has, says the Australasian, recently met with a highly flattering recognition in eminent quarters at Home. Mr. Herbert Spencer, in his great work on Descriptive Sociology,” has brought together the evidence upon which he relies to explain the theory of the structure of human societies according to the law of evolution ; and in that portion of his complicated work which relates to the progressive growth of the legal and parliamentary systems of the Mother .Country,, he pays Professor Hearn the high compliment of adopting his hookas a leading authority. We remark, too, with pleasure, that the work of another author resident in the colony, “ The Early and Middle Ages of England,’’ by Mr. C. H. Pearson, has been freely drawn upon by Mr. Spencer, to portray the character of the national institutions as they existed in Britain during the Roman and early Saxon periods, , t We have been requested to draw attention to Mr. N. J. Isaacs’ sale of fancy goods, &c., to be held at his auction mart, Lambton-quay, this day.