ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 466, 11 October 1879, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

[We areatall times ready to give expression to every shade of opinion, hut in no case do we hold ourselves responsible for th«* ments of our correspondents.]

PATE A INSTITUTE.

{To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir. —Xt is a subject of considerable comment among the frequenters of the Patea Library and Institute, that great laxity exists in its management. The Reading Room contains very few newspapers, many from important places in the colony being conspicuous by their absence —such as from Dunedin and Auckland, not to mention Now Plymouth, which last, though least (from being the place from whence many of our most brilliant inspirations might be supposed to emanate, and from which place mandates of local interest arc issued —to wit, from that august body the Waste Lands Board), should at least have a dark corner provided for one of its journals. Again, the few English periodicals, which 1 suppose can be afforded, are dealt out in a half-and-half sort of fashion. This last mail has produced only one Punch and two Graphics ; the European Mail has been missing for two or three mouths ; the Australasian, a really valuable paper for a farming coimnuuiiy, has several ol its numbers deficient; in lact, 1 may conclude by saying that Mr Haywood’s bar parlor is far better provided with newspapers than our Pnulic institute, built for the express purpose. The Building itself is a creditable one, but the interior economy is decidedly dismal. With regard to the Library, a better class of books might have been chosen, and the new lot expected will most of the n, I understand, prove very old acquaintances with new faces. Complaints are frequently heard also of the want of punctuality of the Librarian, or his deputy or assistant deputy j in attending for the purpose of issuing books, if the Committee are still in Patea, it would be a novelty for them to meet and judge for themselves if something cannot be done to enliven the institute, and so attract more subscribers, and give those already booked more value for their five bobs a quarter, —I am, &c., GRUMBLER. Patea, October 6th, 1879.