MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 141, 22 March 1872, Page 3

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

An entertainment partaking of the nature of a musical soiree was held last night, at. the Academy of Music, in aid of the building fund of the Institute, and was, we arc glad to state, a great success. His Honor the Superintendent occupied tiie chair, and Mr J. Sheehan supported him. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that it was hardly necessary for him to make any lengthy remarks on the object for which they bad assembled that night. lie felt sure by the number present that they fully recognised the value of such an institution as the Mechanics’ Institute. lie would make no further remarks than that he was very much gratified, and he felt it to be an honour as well as a pleasure to preside on the occasion. He thought that an institute of the kind was worthy of support in any country, but more especially in a new one, where anything which served to promote science and education was worthy of the most hearty support, lie would detain them no longer now, but would call for the next thing on the programme, which lie had no doubt they would enjoy very much. lie would ask tho chorus to sing the part song, “ The Victor’s Return.” This was very nicely rendered by the choir, but -we must say that the building is not at all favourable for singing. The Chairman then called on the secretary Mr Bain to read bis report. Air Bain said that he bad only a few remarks to make with respect to the Institute. As many might remember, more Ilian twelve months ago, tbe idea of erecting a suitable building for tbe Institute was started, and it was thought that £4OO would he sufficient to do so. However, several meetings were held, and it was finally determined to expend £BOO on the building. Times being bad, this intention naturally fell through ; but a short time since the original idea was again brought forward, and it was resolved to erect a £4OO building. Mr Mitchell, M.P.C., brought a resolution before the Provincial Council, and £250 was voted for tbe Thames Institute. On the strength of this tbe committee called for tenders, and a contract was taken and signed for £342 10s. It turned out, however, that they could only obtain £IOO from the Provincial Council, and another ! £IOO was raised by subscriptions, thus . leaving them £142 10s to tbe bad. For i this sum the members of the committee bad become personally responsible to the bank, and had given t'>eir promissory notes for it. He hoped that the public would not allow the committee to suffer, in fact, ho felt sure they would not. The

building was now nearly complete, and would be quite so in the course of a week, and the next tiling to do was to furnish it in proper style. The wish of the committee was to make the Institution a power in the district for good, and enable the growing youth of the place to improve themselves mentally. They intended to get together a good library, and would pay particular attention to the works on mining matters, as they of course considered that the paramount interest of the place. The next thing on the programme was an address from the Chairman. His Honor said that he really had no idea of what sort of an address they expected from him. Had ho had any time allowed him, he might have prepared one, but ho bad not been given sufficient warning. He expected that the Secretary would have read a written report, and bad lie done so it would have gone bard bad be (the Chairman) not been able to find some fault with it ; but the Secretary had simply made a speech, and so he would have to reply to that. He thought not as the committee did on tho subject of the size of tho building to be erected for a Mechanics’ Institute. He thought so much of tho Thames that they ought to have been able to expend £BOO on a building for such a purpose. He congratulated them on having succeeded in getting the £IOO from the Provincial Council, and assured them that it was more than he had been able to obtain for the Auckland Institute. He thought that they ought to raise money not only from residents at the Thames, but from all who were interested in it. He considered that the Thames belonged to tho Province as much as it did to itself, and consequently ought to receive support for its institutions from others than the immediate residents. He considered the Mechanics’ Institute in a mining district as almost invaluable. if properly managed, as through’it all the latest inventions in mining might he brought immediately before the notice of all, and enable them to turn their property to so much better an account, and render it so much more valuable. He had been informed by a gentleman who had travelled all over the colonies that the mining plant on this field was quite equal to, if not superior, to that on any goldfield in Australia. If that was true, it must follow that we have men of talent and science amongst us, who have erected all this plant, &o. He thought that, as the president of the Mechanics’ Institute, lie ought to have been better prepared to address them, as lie considered that, in order for the thing to work well, all, from the head down, ought to work smoothly together ; but lie must excuse himself, as he had been so very busy all day that lie had had no time to prepare anything. He would now ask them to listen to some music, which he had no doubt they would enjoy very much.

Mrs Mitchell sang “ Forsaken,” a sweet and plaintive melody, in such a manner as to demand on encore, to which she responded with “The Power of Love,” which was, if anything, the sweete of the two. Mr J. Sheehan said that lie had a much shorter notice than the Chairman, that lie was to make a speech, and he had intended lo make the Secretary’s report the basis of operations also. He did not agree with the Chairman that the Thames people ought to have gone in for a large building. He thought that they were quite right in putting up the one they had done, as otherwise they might have got into difficulties from which they could not easily have extricated themselves. As regarded the utility of the Institute, no right thinking man could but regard it as a most excellent method of assisting the development of science, avid enabling young men whose education as youths might have been, from various causes, neglected, to improve their mental faculties. lie thought that merely money-mak-ing was not worth while living tor unless men could improve their mental faculties, and thus be able to do good to their fellow men. lie considered that the Hinnies had been the means of making Auckland what it now was, in piaee of its only playing second or third fiddle in the Colony ; and lie was glad to have assisted in obtaining the £IOO tor their Mechanics Institute. Mr Sheehan then made some interesting remarks on the value of Mechanics’ Institutes in general, and said that lie would always be glad to assist them as far as lay in bis power.. Mr Newberry sang “ The Flying Dutchman,” and was rapturously encored. He gave “ I Thought of Thee ” in answer, and it is needless to say that it was nicely sung. An adjournment was then made to the dining saloon, where tables loaded with refreshments were provided, and the centre of the room was handsomely laid out with flowers and plants sent in for exhibition. Mr Stillwell obtained the first prizes for both plants and bouquets. Mrs Forsaith got the second prize for plants, and Mrs Mitchell for her bouquets. Mrs Bain’s and Mrs Curtis’s bouquets were much adinii;cd.

Mr Severn gave some most interesting experiments, which were very much admired, and the second part of the programme was then gone through. Before concluding we must most emphatically express our unqualified disapprobation of tho blackguard conduct of several persons in the body of the'iheatre, who behaved most disgracefully during the delivery of a speech by the Rev. J. Bullcr,— hooting, yelling, and interrupting in sucli a manner that, it was impossible for tho speaker to proceed. The Chairman interfered to no purpose, and some of tbe committee were obliged to bring in a policeman before anything iike order could be obtained. Wo are surprised that any men should so demean themselves as to create a disturbance at a gathering of the sort, and indeed we think that had some of them been turned out, or made examples of, they would have had the sympathy of no right minded or well-thinking man in the community. If they wish to express disapprobation of anyone’s conduct, a public entertainment is not tbe place to’ do it, and they ought to be thoroughly ashamed of their unmanly conduct of last night.