The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 970, 17 June 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1868.

The want of a Public Hall has been long j felt to be the stumbling block in the way ■ of the success of the many social organisations that have been initiated during the last three years. This want has never been so urgently required to be supplied as at tne present time. The reviving prospects of the Province has tended to dispel the inanimation of the people, and evident signs of a public feeling in favor of the establishment of institutions of a beneficial and lasting character most clearly displayed. The two latest attempts to establish popular and desirable institutions promised at the commencement to prove successful, and was calculated to remove the stigma that had been cast upon the people of Invercargill from previous failures—we allude to the Invercargill Volunteer Corps, and the Penny Beading Society. Both of the organisations started with every prospect of a long and useful career, yet while still in . their infancy, they are tottering on the brink of dissolution, and why? Their projectors have worked with earnestness, the public have given marked signs of appreciating the objects , sought to be obtained, but still no progress is being made for the single reason that no public place for assembling can be obtained. The Council Hall has been in some instances granted for the purpose of holding public mee'tings, but it is obvious that it cannot be appropriated to the regular sources of j the organisations to which we allude. The use of the Theatre has also been frequently granted for the purposes of public meetings unconnected- with amusements ; but neither one or the other of these buildings are adaptable, if they were obtainable, to the wants of the class of institutions that now exist, but are rendered almost inoperative for want of a permanent place of meeting. The Volunteers require a drill room, a reading room, and a library, and until this is obtained the corps will not obtain the position and_j?fliciency it is desirable it should hold. The Penny Beading Society requires the same, and for want of such accommodation both are languishing. If Invercargill is desirous of fostering these and kindred institutions, a public hall must be secured. It is certain that unless the public and the Government will unite in the project of obtaining a suitable building for the purposes indicated, that the volunteers will, day by day, lessen in numbers, and all attempts to establish literary or popular and instructive societies prove failures. It is the duty of the Government to give this subject serious consideration. It is under an implied, if not a positive obligation to provide the volunteers with a drill shed- — this is acknowledged by all the Australian colonies,- and: most of the New Zealand provinces-t-and also to supplement public institutions of a social and littrary character. If, then, the Provincial Government would acknowledge its responsibility, and grant a central site, and say, eight hundred pounds, for the purpose xof building a Public Hall on condition that two hundred pounds was subscribed by the public, the great want of the town would be Bupplied. It would not be reasonable to expect it to do this without retaining some control over its management. .. It would be necessary to appoint trustees, and make full provision for the accommodation' of all societies having claims on Government for assistance; There is no obstacle that we can see to the carrying out of these suggestions. It is a fact that unless a movement is made to this end, the volunteer corps will speedily dwindle into an insignificant number, and the energies of the promoters of social progress deadened or destroyed. A correspondent signed "Mechanic," in another column, advocates the building of a large room for the purpose of holding Penny Beadings, public meetings, concerts, &c., by public subscription. His suggestions are worthy of consideration, but we fear it would be difficult to raise a large amount in that way, and we would suggest to those interested in the promotion of social progress, to combine with the volunteers to obtain the object they desire. By such a combination of interests, the Government would be as liberal as possible, and the erection of a Public Hall secured; That this may be depended upon, is evidenced

by the reply of His Honor the Superintendent to the memorial presented to him on the subject of the Council Hall. The first practical step is taken by " Mechanic," and if a similar liberality is generally displayed by the inhabitants, Invereargill may soon possess a Public Hall, both creditable and useful to the community.