The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1884. YOUNG MEN’S INSTITUTE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 71, 20 February 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1884. YOUNG MEN’S INSTITUTE.

The action lately taken by a few of our leading townsmen to establish a Young Men’s Institute in Gisborne is, assuredly, worthy of much commendation, and it would be a pity if the remarks of any interested individual were permitted to influence those true friends of the young who are making an effort to provide instructive employment of an eveningfor the youth of this district. There are many young men of good parts—possessing the ability to make themselves, no doubt, useful members of society—who idle their spare time away in a senseless, degrading manner, and it would, indeed, be a blessing to their parents, and highly gratifying to friends, if the primary suggestions at the late meeting were practically adopted. It need* but the good example of a few of tho young men of this place in turning their attention to the study of something that may prove beneficial to them in the future, to induce others to join in the march of improvement ; but "omo incentive is certainly required to effect that object. The mere fact of a meeting or two being held will not suffice to place the movement on a sound footing,—united action on the part of men of influence must be taken in the matter, and we are, therefore, pleased to find that the Ven. Archdeacon Williams, the Rev. J. Hill, Dr. Pollen, Mr. DeLautoub, Mr. T. Morgan, and others have associated themselves with this grand undertaking. We are also glad to find that the promoters of the scheme wish to act unitedly with the Library Committee in effecting arrangements for the institution of a Young Men’s Institute ; for the reason that much expense might be saved through making necessary additions to the Public Library ; while the books, &c., in that institution would prove an excellent nucleus for the formation of a stock of instructive literature for the new r institution. We take it that the principal object of the promoters of this commendable movement is to afford information to those young men who have not had an opportunity of obtaining scholastic instruction in their childhood, and, in addition, to foster a desire in the members of the institute to obtain such knowledge as may be useful to them in their various avocations. These objects should, certainly, be the primary ones in the foundation of a Young Men’s Institute ; nevertheless, there are some other.benefits that could be provided for studiously-inclined persons, and probably, many young men would be pleased to pay a moderate fee for instruction in the higher branches of education. The questions connected with the details of the scheme —such as providing a smoking-room and social hall —are only of minor importance, and scarcely worth discussing at the present time. The main object should be to give practical effect to the proposals of the initiators of this movement as soon as possible, and not allow any effeminate, interested remarks of those who would like to prevent the adoption of the scheme to have the slightest weight in its consideration. The step taken by the promoters of this measure is one worthy of every commendation, and we shall watch with much interest the manner in which the details of the good work will be carried out.