The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 231, 18 January 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1877.

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Ws regret te> team fromi ttie 1 Secretary the Mechanics'" Institute b not by any *■—*<* accorded that measure of sttpport t« which it may fairly lay claim. We cannot remember just now the aetata! number of subscribers on its books, bat it struck u*> when informed by that gentlean something small, and out of those leading titiaensi formed a very small proportion indeed. Of course, it will bo urged such institutions are purely for the working-classes, but onr experience ha» been to the contrary, and it is alone owing to the interest token in them bf IB* principal townsmen, that the fyAWW Institute* of Dunedin, Melbourne, sad Ballarat are In such flourisht«l condition*. Again, we have heard it urged fcy some that the stock of books is ao nrfiinWj small, that any well-read Ban could find nothing new. While adthere is some justice in the noHtl, we hold that It is one of the very Ink pleat whieh could be brought forward for to more general support. It having a large list of paying yiimßaMwi that funds can be placed in tfcehanda of the Committee for keeping upneooatant rebjr of new books each jhUL It It just possible that a great amy of thoee who have not been memteilh tltt past were not so merely be* cause they never gave the matter a thought. And we trust now that the abow&ato have been made known, the tffnufolk wEtt ndly round the institution,

and enable the Committee to remedy the evil complained of, by increasing the library. The reading-room is a great boon to a large number of persons, is extensively patronised, and, until lately, by many who, while speaking disparagingly of its usefulness, contributed nothing to its funds.