MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4330, 1 July 1871, Page 3

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

TO THE EI>ITOR. Sir, —A member complains of the mode in which, the catalogue was compiled because his peculiar ideas were not carried out. There are different opinions as to the beat way of .compiling a catalogue: the one adopted is that generally used in most public libraries and by London publishers, &c. Aa it is therefore a^matter of opinion, we leave the public to decide. That however which I wou^ld call most attention to is the fact of your correspondent not strictly adhering to the i Acts of the case. He states the circulation of books was withheld from the public for ■nearly a month, &c. 1 find on inquiry that books, were called in on the Bth April, and re-issued on the 25th, just leaving 14 clear days for new issue (Sundays excepted), not a month you can see j butr those who want to make a case stop not at trifles. The pet idea' of your correspondent I understand was madeHihe subject of considerable discussion at one qf •'the meetings of the committee, when .he soiigh't to carry his peculiar views by a very "high hand, which, wei« considered so very Extraordinary, ridiculous, and childlike that he could not find a seconder (nor could 'h$ v venture to tfdy in any committee com-. posed 5 of sensible men). Jt is a pity your correafoondent has no bettor way of employing hi? time than writing silly remarks on men \&<idevote their unrequited time, and give themselves an amount ofHrouble for a public -pnepoie, apparently for no other reason than tfii^f Members ?'•- unsolicited opinions and .-Httld i>et schemes were not adopted in the \ , the catalogue. I would just i x^(r'fcthat 4t Member, "* af <*er torturing hia-| ifam for BBwardaio! tvo montln^ haa a^ ■tj, ;m> I i - -

Ast succeeded in bringing forth a ridicnlm raus of his own. As to the hit at the Secretary, that is a matter of coarse. Mr. Secretary need not expect to get credit for anything he does, however good, from the quarter whence " Member's " letter emanates. — I am, &c, Shakebroker.