The Southland Times. MONDAY. JULY 26, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1100, 26 July 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY. JULY 26, 1869.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Southland Club Reading Boom, recently held, furnishes renewed occasion for reference to a subject which has frequently been commented upon — the want of an Athenoeum or Public Literary Institute. After the many efforts made in the city to establish an institution of this character, which have resulted Jin failure, it may seem almost hopeless to revive the subject. It will be admitted that no outward circumstances so definitely mark the social advancement of a community as the indications of provision for its intellectual necessities. In point of fact the material prosperity and intellectual advancement of any people will be generally in the same ratio. There may. it is true, be exceptions, yet, ordinarily, they will progress side by side. The reason of this ib plain. In the competitive struggle, Bucceas as a rule will only be attained by the exercise of na'ur:il talent, enterprise, and energy, d • . -t-pri and *us*a ; ne Ibv the appliances of It ratuie anl science. To be successful in the highest degree, a man must not only possess a mechanical knowledge of his particular calling, but must also be aware of the various degrees in which that calling iB affected by outward circumstances. The discoveries of sci n c improvements in manufacture, .: O «. niic ■' : =«ng ■■•». -nid perh.ips a „ r c - (,*•♦>: wi'l in «»ne i- a t c w er •<■ s aw re o t r iv. it, aseri iiy atfinrt the positou of a man, either beneficially or prejudicially. This being the case, by general admissioa, it is matter of surprise that no adequate provision ha^ yet been made in this community to place it on a par with that of neighboring cities. In any remarks which may be made upon thia matter, it must be understood once for all. that no intention exists to cast a slur v )on the reading-room at present in operation, or to raise up an institution hostile thereto. The club reading-room was established on the spur of the moment, to meet a want then, and for a long time previously felt to exist, and however perfectly it may hare answered the special necessity which called it into existence, it will be admitted that it has simply been recognised as a commercial institute. It has served, and does serve its purpose very well, as an exchange or business centre, and is in no way likely to be superseded by the establishment of any such institution as that we would now advocate. The basis, however, upon which it rests, is not sufficiently broad to rear a super structure thereon, which shall have much influence on the community at large. The limited sphere of its operations and its^somewhat exclusive character from %c amount of the subscription and other .circumstances render it virtually useless to a jjvery large number of the persons really most interested, because most to be benefited by tb.e establishment of a Literary and Scientific Institute. The advantages of an Institution combin-

ing the benefits of a Reading Boom, with those of the Lecture and Class rooms, in which subjects having a more or less direct bearing on the practical pursuits of ]ife could be taught and discussed are so patent as to need but little enforcementEqually patent it is that all classes must in one way or other be benefited by its establishment. To the agriculturist regarding the value of a knowledge of chemistry, and other kindred sciences in their application to agriculture ; to the mechanic or the commercial man ; to any or to all it would be difficult to overrate its advantages. So generally, indeed, is its necessity admitted that the wonder is what arguments can be used against its immediate establishment. If it be urged that the present season of commercial dulness is not favourable to the launching of any new enterprise, it may be replied that if the Institution itself be of any value it is in such a season as the present that its value will be most suitably apparent. If the question of funds be raised, and in this direction a difficulty should seem to start up, it will be met by the argument that a scheme on a broad aud comprehensive basis will embrace so many within the range of its operation, as that the burden will fall lightly on each Some few months, since when the matter catne indirectly under discussion in connection with a kindred subject, a resident of the city voluntarily offered to put down £100 towards the object. Why the project was not then carried out has not been explained, but the probable reason is the apathy of the citizens. Apart from the necessities of the community in a literary view, the value of a public Hall, convenient and available, which such an institution would furnish, would be very great. Until very recently no suitable building has existed for holding public meetings, and that it exists now is the result of private enterprise as a private speculation, and this even is altogether not what is required. No intelligent community ought to be without a public museum, that the natural curiosities of the district and of other parts, together with works of art, might be preserved; and as exhibitions afford amusement and exercise an improving influence, the various societies at present existing for special objects such as acclimatisation,together with those aiming at promoting the rational amusement of the mass, would all fiud their object the more easily attained in connection with an Institution designed and adapted to secure true progress. One thing is certain that in comparison with many other places of no longer standing than ourselves and not a whit more favorably circumstanced, we are much in the rear as regards the estimation in which intellectual progress is held, judging from the absence of effort to secure it. There ate a few persons to whom this matter baa been one of considerable concern, and it is to be hoped they will not either lose heart or allow the idea wholly to drop. There is no lack of effort among us in suggesting and carrying out benevolent and philanthropic objects, and it is a pity there should be any indisposition to originate and promote an undertaking which is in a sense the handmaid of true benevolence and philanthropy, by the formation of reflective habits, and a desire for mental improvement.