The Evening Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 71, 31 March 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1870.

Within the past few weeks, and especially the last few clays, we have received a mass of correspondence relative to the Mechanics' Institute. The general purport of the letters being similar, we have published only a few ; but if we may judge from the opinions expressed, there is undoubtedly a general and strongly-felt dissatisfaction regarding this institution. Some weeks ago, we opened our columns on the subject. We felt satisfied at tho preliminary steps then taken by the new committee, and the committee have evidently felt satisfied with the same, for they have gone no farther. We reluctantly return to the subject, for by this time the Mechanics' Institute, like the Intake, has been voted a bore by the public. But we cannot help asking will the committee really do anything to infuse vitality into the Institute, or must the members hold a general meeting and call on them to resign ? There are grounds for dissatisfaction, so many and so varied that the very mention is overwhelmingly discouraging. That the site of the building is a disgrace to the city, that the building itself is discreditable, as urged by our correspondents, are facts beyond gainsaying ; but that the best is not made of what we have, and that a number of incapables should hold the seats in the committee which should be occupied by better men, and so be the means of preventing the usefulness of the Institute, are matters with which we have more immediately to do, aud which are at the basis of complete reform. The right government and conduct of the Mechanics' Institute are too intimately interwoven with the feelings and interests of the body of the people for any trifling with them to be endured. Intended for the people, and especially for that section which, from want of means and want of leisure, is precludedfromthomore recherche sources of literary, scientific, and aesthetic enjoyments, the whole arrangements of'the Institute should be based on that intention. And if those persons who have allowed themselves to be put forward into the management, conceive that attention to this is derogatory to them, we strongly recommend that they should at once do themselves the honor of disburdening themselves of the responsibility. In default of this, or of some evidence of vitality in the action of the committee, we shall be very happy to aid any members of the Mechanics' Institute, who will come together, for the purpose of calling a general meeting, and compelling the committee to resign.