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The Mechanics' institute.
Tua tardty efforts of the Council and
committee towards the establishment of
a Mechanics' Izistitute has at last been
quickened into a new and -sudden vital
ity, and the finlal arrangements for en
tering upon the erection and furnishling
of the building are now being undertaken
in real earnest. At a meeting of the
committee, held a few evenings ago,
it was resolved that the Treasurer lie.
communicated with in order to obtain
the additional-grant of £250, promised
by the Premier, and also to ask for a
suffiient and suitable supply of books.
The committee are now considering the
plans of the proposed building, and it is
to be presuniu d will soon be in readiness
to call for tenders for the carrying .out
of the work Tis frnishis ?z aiot er
instance of the-liberality of the present
Government, inasmuch as they have con
tributed largely tow;wrds the establish
nment of educational facilities for the
people, as %ll as putting forth vigorous
efforts for the provision of means where
by their physical fiaiforts shall be
ensured. The latter naturally come
first, but the importance of the
former, notwithstanding their secondary
position, is apparent to all those who
in any way desire the advancemenit of
culture and - refinement in our midst.
To obtain gold, though it may be the
first consideration with most of us, is
not the oldy one, and in itself cannot
filly compensate for- the disadvantages
and discomforts which we have to ex
perience. The acquisition of the pre
cious- metal is only desirable in propor
tion! to the power which it confers, and
unless we are to bury ourselves in a
howling wilderness for tihe -mere sake of
obtaining a material which it is useless to
retain, and which merely passes through
our hands, the real object of our labors
must b, to expend the results in the
most judicious and beneficial manner.
Therefore the Mecuhanies' Institute,
which has been virtually founded by the
Governmente, should be liberally sup
ported by every resident who has a desire
for tite maintenance of the prestige of
the town -and the enlightenment of its
citizens. The subscription fee is nldy
lOs per annum, and at this rate
it is reasonable to expect that the
new institution will -have a very long
roll of subscribers. We trust it may,
and we welcome its establishment as-.an
inestimable boon to the comnuunity.
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