MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 1, Issue 28, 25 March 1843, Page 3

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

H A LF - Y E A RLY R E P O RT.

'.'■l our Committee,, have much salisf action., in presenting. 10. the members of this institute the first, half-yearly report of itsegtabfishment, vise and progress. "-Your Committee feel it would he a work of supererogation to state to its members the objects of this institution : for Mechanics' Institutes are not only well known to all intellectual' communities; but also highly appreciated, and rank amon j? their, patrons, persons of the highest literary acquirements and influence in the Parent State and Europe generally; <The most prominent among whom, (living) is 'he Lord Brougham and, Vaux ; and (dead) ihe immortal Bircbeck, the founder of Mechanics' Institutes. ..'"."'?

"We will therefore at once proceed to detail to you »he advancement of this our institoJe.

" The Auckland Mechanics' Institute, has been in existence only six months, and we have pleasure in taking a retrospect of tiiat pertod, not however, without ardently wishing, that we hada fuller, and at the same time/-stronger report to make ;" which may be partly attributed to unforeseen causes, among which is the unprecedented dullness of trade in the colony, with the effects of which, the members severally, are too well acquainted, to need a rehearsal in this place. As, however, there are brighter prospects in view, we are gratified in the hope, that, our subse.quent Report; will not only be more cheering, but, more satisfactory. " in the infantine state of the colony, the institute has had many difficulties to encounter, which your Committee, have sedulou ly endeavoured to counteract by using that discrimination and zeal, so necessary in forming such institutions in newly raised communities. Among these difficulties we may perhaps name one, which-we have found almost insurmountable, namely, the obtaining Public Lecturers. Yet, we are happy in being enabled to state, that gentlemen of the highest literary attainments in the colony, have blandly come forward to our aid. Though the lecture season was short, we can number six lectures upon useful and en'ertaining subjects. The opp.ruMg lecture was delivered, by the lion arable, the learned Attorney General M'iß.. s Swainson,i>Esq, 2. On Burns' Poetry, by Henry Falwasser, Esq. 3. On Botany, by Henry Pal wasser, Esq. 4. On Phrenology, by W, Brown, Esq. 5. On — : -, by Dr. Thompson, R .N, the medical gentleman in charge of the immigrants by the "Duchess of Argyle," 6 On Education, by Mr. Home, the gentleman in charge of the Parkhurst Boys by the " St, George." Your Committee have not neglected to evince, in the most warm and cordial Urms, their just sense of obligation to those gentlemen; on behalf of the members of this institute, for their urbanity in aiding its views and avowed objects. It is matter, however, for regret that the Committee have to announce, that an almost insuperable difficulty has arisen in obtaining diagrams and models to illustrate the lectures, but are consoled in the confident hope that, members, being artizans, will come forward at the ensuing lecture season to supply this deficiency, until the funds of the institute are ample enough to defray that necessary expense Op the coming season your Committee have pleasure in slating that the opening lecture will be given by S. M. D. Martiti, Esq., M.D., a gentleman well known to the members, which will be followed up by othef gentlemen, who have already expressed their readmess to aid the institute; upon various useful and instructive knowledge to be continued every fortnight during the season. "Since the first General Meeting upon the business of the institute, His Excellency \Villougbby Shortland, Esq., the Officer administering the Government, has urbanely signified his vviliingttegg to become the patron of the also kindly granted an allotment fl *me members, upon Which to erect ja Hall of Science, a deputation upon I! is Excellency for that p«rpW The un dermentioued gentlemen who Were elected trustees of the institute, at a General Meeting, have been sanctioned by HiExcellency the Governor, viz. :

(I. A. 13f.N NET!', R. E. President. C W. LIGAu, ESQ., or Geneia:. W m. Brown'., Esq., Merc bant. S. i\J. D. Martin, &q.\ M, D. Mr. Alex. Black, BuiloVr. ".flie allotment, granted s'-Uiated, being on the rsinj; ■Hud nd joining the WesJeVau Chapel. " Mr. Buckland, a member of the Com mittee. lias kindfv presented to the instj tule a valuable donation, id an extensive collection of mineral specimen** contain -ing one hundred a'id three" varieties,- to be placed in the,Mi:s inn of the Institute, for tire general bent fit and advantage of the members. Mr. A, Black, also a member of the Committee, and a trustee

of the institute, has kindly undertaken to supply a neat and suitable case in Which to place the specimens for general inspection and security. Mr. Whytlaw, a gen-» tleman well known to your Committee, Mvho has already proceeded to England, and previous to his departure, offered his .gratuitous agency to collect useful specimens upon Tarious subjects, books; &c,[for the institute, which were gladly accepted by your Committee, its members having implicit confidence in his integrity and fitness for the responsible duty he has undertaken. " Your Committee being impressed with the necessity for ejecting a suitable building" for the carrying on the general business -of the institute, have to direct your attention to this impotatit and have to hope for a fervent cooperation of all the members, towards that- object. Ti is the intention of your Committee first, to erect a portion of a general plan of permanent building, until our funds encrease, when the entire building can be completed. "The Library of the institute-, h"as ; now been open four months, for circulation and reference. It already contains two hundred and seventy-three volumes upon the Arts and Sciences, History,'Travels, and works of general interest ami amusement; by the most popular and approved authors; also 261 Magazines and Pamphlets, the whole of which are donations by various -members, and those who wish well to the institute. Your Cbinmitiee earnestly entreat members, and others who have it in their power, to. continue from time (o time, their kind exertions in obtaining additions to the Library^.,,Museum, Model and Apparatus Rooms. . •-■-:.■ " Your Committee, haying frequently had the subject of /forming Debating Classes, among the adult members of the institute brought under their consideration, and having gravely weighedMhe. consequences likely to result, fiom the.m ; which your Committee think will ho instructive, and engender a well directed ..taste for reading works, having for their end general uiiiiiy, do now recommend that Debating Classes be formed, subjected, however, to such proper restrictions and regulations, as on mature thought they may deem fit ; which shall in due course be published, or made known for the information of the members.

"In regard to the amount of funds in hand, your Committee, could have much wished .to have been enabled to exhibit a larger balance.in favor of the institute, but, when thej unprecedented depressed State of trade is taken into consideration, which affects the mechanics generally, this will be readily accounted for, added to which, there having hitherto (until Mr. Didsbury's appointment as Librarian) been no responsible Officer appointed to collect subscriptions; for through the sudden departure of Mr. Kitchen, (who acted as Secretary) for the Bay of Islands, your Committee were quite thrown out in their arrangements generally. The attention of your Committee has been directed towards well economy in the general management of the affairs of the institute, and have to report a saving in rent; which will be found hitherto to have been a heavy item in the disbursements. This reduction has enabled your Committee to pay. a small salary to a Librarian, the duties of which require that necessary attention and time, which could not be expected to be performed so perfectly, or devoted with; so much zeal, when left to the gratuitous services of members.

" feel grateful for the facilities afforded by Mr. Hart, of the " Exchange lintel," for his kindness in affording, gratuitously, the use of his splendid rooms, for Lectures, and on other occasions- when required ; and they feel confident this meed of praise will find a response in the breast of every member. "In conclusion, we have to congratulate the members, that, upon striking a balance-,accounting for receipts and expenditure, in accordance with the Rank Book, the: e. is in favor of the institute y..s. 4 I. Jjrii'e greater number of tile members (so n% of whom are one," others two quarters' spbsfcriptiou' in arrear;) utile's.! wise the balance would have appeared considerably buffer than that shewn in the accompanying sheet," " Auckland Jlechanics' Institute, 20,ih dajwfff March, 1843."