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Evening Post, Volume XLIV, Issue 128, 29 November 1892, Page 4

UNKNOWN

'JO -lIIK KI.ITOK. ■•■p. —It was with much r« (fret that 1 re ><' Uuc tuis old : nn valuable institution w.m 10 [iv wound up, owing to the want of public xpiril and liberality in the people of tl.ia o.ty. The mim .£4OO required is ho paitr . , r-=p<>cially when you con a ider that we have v iio|inlatiou of netrly JJ3.000. Where are tliiHi- who hare uiadu iiandsoine fortunes in thin city and piovincp, that they do not come forward uud head a «nb<jeription list, with a substantial amount, r— lor it they did ho iio doubt a general subscription could be got up, so an not only to Have this institution, but to put it into a good position. No doubt tho fact that some ot the abovo people liavo tho run of tho Parliamentary Libraiy is tho cuu«o of their seeming indifference and want of nyuipathy for this institution. Then, again, wliy could not the Wellington Operatic and other Hocieties assist the inst itution by giving entertainments in its aid '( If tho Wellington Operatic Society gave a series of grand gift concerts, and presented the tieketlioldorß with valuablo gilts, no doubt a largo number of tickets would be sold ; so that this paltry debt would be liquidated, ancl a sum obtained sufficient to put tho institution on a good footing for years to come. Then, again, tho apathy of the women is no donbt to bo accounted for by want of being directed it* to what to do. Why oonld not a grand Kaney Uu/.aar bo got up, in which people of all denominations could join, so as to make it a great success I' iia/.aars have been got up almost without number in aid of various churches, and why not also for this unfortunate institution? No doubt .Mr. Walter Ttentloy's and other theatrical companies would have given a benefit for the Athcmuuin had they been solicited to do so. To show how things are done in the United States of America. 1 may mention that in 1874 the musical societies of Kentucky got up five gift concerts in aid of the Public Library of Kentucky, and the committee appointed sold 5,000,000 tickets atsl, or 4s, each, and they gave cash gifts to the number of 20,000, amounting to $2,500,000, or .£500,000, and the f ibrury Fund received $2,500,000, or JESW.OOO, less expenses of ealo o) tickets &c. Thon, again, the Toxas Gift Concert Association gave one concert iv aid of public improvements in the city of Denipon, Texas, and the committee sold 500,000 tickets at $1, or 4s, each, and gavo away 49,769 cash gifts, amounting to §250,000, or ,£50,000, and the fund for public improvements received -£.*>O,COO, less axpenses of sale of ticket*, <tc. This .£50,000 was used for drainage, tree-planting, &c. Tho committee of tho Athentuum have shown that they are us barren of resources to rehabilitate that institution as tho down is on belly of a crocodile, and apparently of silver or liberality also, otherwiho those 32 persons who voted tor or against tho resolution to wind up would have subscribed JJIO each, which would have amounted to J8320, and no doubt others would have followed their example and have given their mite, and even some of our champion misers, i.e., our mean and niggardly rich men, might have been shamed into giving a fow dollars out of their hoards Failing this being dono as abovo suggested, then tho City Council should take over the Athenamm library and establish a circulating library, as was done in Auckland with the library ot" tho Mechanics' Instituto. I am, &c, Aitaus. P.S. — Why was not a public meeting of citizens called to discuss tho financial position of tho Athennium before tho coinmitteo carried the resolution to wind up ? Caddish marble slabs that cost nothing to those whoso names are cut tboroon, arc very characteristic of the patriotism or liberality of this city.