READING UNIONS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8187, 1 June 1892, Page 3

READING UNIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Sib, —There has been considerable misapprehension of the methods and means by which the Australasian Home Reading Union does its work, and as you, sir, have taken considerable interest in it, perhaps you will allow mc to give a few explanations regarding it. (1) Pisces of meeting—lt is intended that as far as possible all meetings of circles shall take place round the home fireside, and as a circle need not consist of more than two, the members of a household may frequently be able to constitute their circle and hold their meetings without, going across their doorstep. (2) Books to' be read—The selection of books for this year is an excellent one, as may be gathered from the following facts: Only those written by men of the first rank in science and literature have been admitted into the list. Shakespeare, Tennyson, Ruskin, Carlyle, Darwin and Tyndall are amongst the authors chosen for study. At the same time the most modern books have,, as far as possible, been prescribed in the Science Courses, and these too are such as present the more fascinating sides of the subjects. Darwin's "Voyage of the Beagle," and Cooke's " New Chemistry" for example, are books in which the interest is sustained from beginning to end, as in an exciting novel, While at the same time they are written by men of the highest authority in their respective branches, and are very largely self explanatory. Ordinary school and University text books have been generally avoided. Some of the books in each course are at present procurable in Christchurch ; and, lastly most of those marked as ''required " are inexpensive, so that any one wishing to commence work on any course may do so at once on communicating with mc and mentioning the course they wish to take up. (3) There is no examination, of any kind held in connection with any of the courses. (4) The A. H. R. W. Magazine, the first number of which is already published, will furnish help where leaders oi circles or local authorities fail to do so. This magazine is supplied free of cost to all members, and copies for the Christchurch branch will, I expect, be at hand in a few days.—Yours, '4c., . Robt. M. Laing, Secretary, Christchurch Branch, A.H.R.W.