ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 68, 4 November 1864, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

0 WE DO NOT IDENTIFY OURSELVES IN ANY WAY WITH THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS. THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. (TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTHLAND TIMES.) Bui, — With your permission, 1 wisli to draw the attention of the committee of the Mechanics' Institute to the unsatisfactory state of the read-ing-room of that institution. Lately the list of subscribers has been considerably augmented, and it is now not uncommon to meet several gentlemen in the room; whereas, a few months since, scarcely a person looked in during the whole week ; but a feeling of regret is very generally expressed that the requirements of the subscribers are not better attended to. .Firstly. The ivudiny-room closes in the evening with the daylight. 1 need not remark that this is exceedingly unsatisfactory. Secondly. Of the three newspapers published in this town, the Southland New,- alone is to be found on the table. No other of the newspapers published throughout New Zealand, with the exception of the Oamaru Times, are taken in, neither are there any Tasmanian, Adelaide, or Sydney papers to be found there. When the last English Mail arrived, no periodicals were received for several days, after private persons had obtained theirs. If I understand the objects of Mechanics' Institutes rightly, and the means generally adopted to secure those objects, then 1 would strongly advise the committee to make the necessary arrangements for lighting and warming the reading-room, and for procuring a regular supply of the principle New Zealand, Australian, and Tasmanian papers as early as possible. I make these remarks in no captious spirit, having only the well being of the Institution in view. — I have, etc., ZACCHO. November 2nd, 1864.