The Evening Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 877, 6 February 1879, Page 2

The Evening Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1879.

. I»• there is anything of which we onght to feel well ashamed, it ta that we have not n smgte btttMing in which t«> hold public meetings, entertainments, etc. In this respect we are- not only beaten by Inveruargilt—which has several beautiful commodioos halts, and has just completed a handsome new theatre— Timarti, and Ashbvtrturt: bat we are behind nearly every small country township in the Colony. Th» *by when the Volunteer Hall was capaiblo- of doing dttty aa. theatre, leetwrctnoßn, drill-shed, and concert-halt, has long since gone, if it ever existed. Nothing can be heard or seen to advantage in the Votimteer Hall; we beg pardon—except tho Votunfceers. It is a go*.»«I drill-shed, and tfiali is alt that can b«? said m its favor. It is wetl that the voice of the drill instructor is not expected to be conveyed to the ears of his " men " in perfect mMsteal waves of sound, for the Volunteer Halt is like » wet Manfefc to sound. Wttfst the accommodation as » tectttre-roontand c»n-cert-tlaitt b wretched, and its adaptability as a theatre b worse, in appearance it is not. a bit. better. Wc have already written several time* on this question, and SU' has our contemporary. But the r«testintii hiv» undergone a change of late. At one time we were threatened with a halt in almost every street. In fact, the promoters of these public halt scheme* were driven out of the field by each other, fearful lest all should bnitd, and all sutler losis. iStnce that day the Masonic Halt tus been transformed tntf* a dormitory, where weary sleepers make night nutskal. and we are left worse off than ever. The time has arrived when we must bestir ourselves to secure at least one hall. *>«r idea is that there should be two—one in connection; with the Mechanics' Institute, and a town hall in connection with the Municipal Offices. A sufficient number of otoces of business could be arranged in connection with each of these buildings t>* go a long way towards paying the interest on the amount of cost ; or, if the Mechanic:?' Institute hall were made a large one, and replete with every convenience for the giving of various public entertainments, the building of a towr» halt might be postponed for a season. flat we do. hope that something wttl now hv done in the matter, and that the forthcoming annual general meeting of the Mechanics' Institute will vwt in steps l>eiti£ taken to till ft want which is every ctoy becoming more apparent- This institution can never to any appreciable extent become what it aspires to. be—an educator of the people—until it possesses iv building which combines adjuncts that wilt prove inviting to people-.