The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1888.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3765, 9 August 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1888.

If it; wero not for tlio tliird wtiou of iho "Nnpicr AthoniiMim tunl JUeoliniiies , -Institute Incorporation Act" it is very probnblo that tlio Athoiiienin would not ho .subjected to periodical attacks from within and without. But many nmomvst iho members arc under tho impression tluii i\\o institute is not fulfilling its duty, and tu»t a few of the general public bclicvo that Ilioy have a claim to a participation in tbe benefits it may afford. Tliei-o is a good deal to be said on behalf of the Athenicum, and quite as Jiuich gainst it. We We not spacp )tfl mpro than briefly glance at the question, but wb .sagil fis rn«ch to it as wo can, because the Atheiueuft, y ( e approhond, regards itsolf jnore as a private than a public institution. The first record we have of the Athenaeum i» Mcd Noyeni.bcr 3, 1859, when, at a public meeting presided over by Captain Curling, it.M., Mr Tiffen moved, " That, in the opinion of this meeting-, it is desirable to establish a Mechanics' Institute and public readingroom for the benefit of the inhabitants of tlio province of Hawke's Bay." This resolution. carried unanimously, but what effect was given to it we do not now re,flom.ber, .?

Mechanics' Institute, of which the Superintendent, Mr T. 11. FitzGerald, was the President, Mr. 11. B. Scaly the VicePresident, and Messrs Scaly, J. N. Wilson, and J. J. Kelly were the trustees, and Mr 11. S. Tiffen the treasurer. The eighteenth rule of the Institute provided as follows: — '' That any property which it may possess at such time shall not be divided amongst the members, and on no account be applied to any other purpose than that of Public Education." It is well to bear this rule in mind, because it related to the winding up of tho Institute. It is held by many that the present Athonrcum only came into existence on the passing of the Incorporation Act, and, therefore, some would like to know in what way the property of the old Institute has beenapplicdtopublic education by its successor. In 1863 a public meeting was held at which it was resolved to apply to tho Provincial Council for a grant-in-aid of tho Mechanics' Institute, and the sum of £320 was subsequently voted for that purpose. In the following year an Act of the Provincial Council was passed entituled '' An Act to appropriate a certain parcel of land, situate in Napier, as a site for a Mechanics' Institute." This piece of land is that on which now stand tho Supreme Court and the Athenreum, and was originally granted to the Superintendent "in trust for purposes of public utility." So far it will be seen the Mechanics' Institute was a public institution, public, land and public money being given it for its endowment and support. From 1872 to 187G the Provincial Council voted £500 to the Athcnsoum. When the Government required a site for the Supreme Court the eastern portion of the Atlienreum reserve was taken for the purpose, and another piece of land of equal size at the rear of the Athenaeum was given in its stead. In IS7o the "Public Libraries Act" was passed, and in the folloAving 3'car tho "Napier Athenreum and Mechanics' Institute Incorporation Act" conveyed the whole of the property then held by the Athenreum to the members who wore by the same Act converted into n. body corporate. To show that the Legislature regarded the Institute in the saino light as tiiat which is now combated by the corporate body, we shall quote the third section of the Incorporation Act:— "The object and purposes of the body corporated shall be to aid and promote public education and moral and intellectual improvement, and tho general study and cultivation of the various branches and departments of art, science, and literature, by means of libraries, lectures, classes, or in any similar manner, and to provide funds for such purposes, but the members of such body corporate shall not derive any personal pecuniary profit therefrom." It is now seven years ago since that A.ct was passed, and we would ask whether it can be said the Athcnrcum has carried out the objects and purposes of its mission on account of which it has received both public land and public money ? Has it promoted public education by means of its library, or its reading room, or by the establishment of lectures or classes ? The answer must be no, and for the reson that the Institute cannot be regarded as a public one when on its doors Is notified "for subscribers only." This inscription, which may bo read either as "trespassers will be prosecuted," or as "intruders will be ejected," has not always graced tho doors of an institution to which has been applied the misnomer of " Athenaeum." In former years a visitors' contribution box stood on the mantel-piece of tho reading room, and rather invited than repelled tho passingstranger. We fully recognise tho fact that tho Institute must be supported by some means, and if not by subsidies from the general or local government than necessarily by private subscription. Nevertheless we maintain that private subscriptions cannot convert a public institution into an association for private purposes. Can it be said that its purposes are public when only those who can afford to pay tho subscription demanded can dorivo any benefit from the Athenaeum ? We allow that the subscription to those who can afford it is low enough 1 but itis far too high for those who cannqt spai'o the amount, and who consequently are debarred from entering portals sacred only to the wealthier classes. We would suggest that tho subscriptions ought to bo made either monthly or weekly to the reading room, so thatat'loast visitors to the town by the payment of a few pence could use the Institute for the short time they may be hero without feeling that they are intruding or obtaining anything for which they have not paid.