The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 115, 17 May 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1876.

The very favorable report and balancesheet, submitted last evening by the Committee of the Patea Literary Institute, is mi excellent proof of the advance that this part of the district has made during the last twelve months. Contrary to the results of too many up-country institutions of the kind, the committee showed a very respectable balance in hand, with a fair proportion of good debts, whilst, during the term stated, a large number of new books have been added, and the funds in hand are sufficient to purchase more. The subscribers hja v o reason to congratulate themselves on these facts, and it seems in the highest degree probable that when the next year’s report is handed in tiicy will have still further occasion for satisfaction. •At the same time, there' is nothing good

but there is something better, and the Patca Institute is only in its infancy, as far as its usefulness goes. In the first place, a much larger room is required—one suitable not only for the library, but as a reading-room. It is true that the present evamped-up space is used as the latter, hut how ill-fitted for such a purpose it is needs no pointing out. Other premises—pending the erection of the proposed building, which is not likely to be up this year —capacious enough to answer both purposes, could now be obtained, and whilst the comfort of the subscribers would be thereby greatly enhanced, their numbers would be materially increased. A room in-which a stove or fireplace is or could be placed during the cold months that we may now look forward to, is necessary, and, though the library may only be open on certain days, and at fixed hours, flic reading-room should bo open every day for such hours as might bo deemed necessary. This would not necessitate the attendance of the librarian, and it would rest with the subscribers whether or not they abused the confidence thus reposed in them by non-supervision. We do not think one in a thousand would be moan enough to abstract or damage any papers or periodicals so left at their mercy. Again, classes, as in other places, on however small a scale, might be formed in connection with the Institute, and volunteer teachers could no doubt bo found. For instance, vocal music, drawing, shorthand, and other accomplishments might thus bo pleasantly acquired during the long winter evenings, and in this dull place, where the only resources in the way of amusement, are cards or billiards in public houses, these classes would combine both amusement and instruction. Occasional lectures too might be given, and there are many in the town and district capable of delivering them, to which subscribers should he admitted free, and the general public at an alniostnominal chargeBy these and other moans that could be named, the Institute would rapidly become popular as well as useful, and, although some may pooh-pooh these suggestions as being in advance of the lime, wo would remind these objectors-that everything must have a beginning, and that, though the Carlyle classes, lectures, concerts, or what not would be hardly likely to come up to thpse of larger places, still they would afford both amusement and instruc-

tio if,- even though on an inferior scale, and wouh? bo most welcome during the forthcoming dreary mouths that we have to look Forward to. The committee of the Institute, hi connection with it, is the proper boa’v to initiate them. There can be no doubt that the Hall company would, if appealed t<r f make concessions to an institution of thg.khul, llot olll y offer liberal terms for L> accommodation required forthe library' reading-room, but include the use of the ball for, say one night a week, for any entertainment that might be got up. Though the income so derivable would bo but sma.h, it would be more than sufficient to pay all .expenses, as these would probably bo contf nc d to mere lighting, and so the InstituUb i n addition to conferring a benefit on .the community, wowld slightly increase it." funds. In fine, the amount of good that this institution can do, and the pleasure that it can afford in a place like this, is hardly to bo estimated. Weekly gatherings of a social kind to which all classes would come would do much to break up the petty cliquisrn, and thaw the frigidity which at present unfortunately exists, and, if they answered no other end, that alone would be an invaluable gain. Patea is no worse than other small places in this respect, but if the Institute can create one common platform on which all may meet and sociality be founded, then its members will have set an example for other little communities to follow, and will have deserved well of every one in the district. Let us hope that the committee will take these things into consideration, and act quickly on them, if deemed desirable to carry out. It is useless waiting for outside action ; if the Institute does not take them up no one else will.