The Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1880.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 62, 13 November 1880, Page 2

The Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1880.

THE HAWERA INSTITUTE.

Fbom the report of the meeting of the committee, which will be found in another Dolnrou, sfc ■will he seen that the JBTawera Institute is not in a flourishing condition fiuanciiilly. The committee, like all similar bodies in the colony, entered into certain engagements, basing their calculations, to some extent, on the strength of receiving a yearly subsidy from the Government. It will also be remembered that, in the distribution of the library vote, the committee -were badly treated i \>y iiie "fisajganui l&eiue&bion Hoards and 1 though ihe committee may have acted unwisely in refusing to supply the detailed particulars asked for by the board, thus giving the latter a good opportunity of appropriating the "lion's share" of the grant for Wanganui, still there can be no question that both the previous and the present committee have worked strenuously for the institution. The handsome, commodious, and comfortable building, and the large supply of magazines and papers to he found on the taoies, are ample evidence of the fact. We hold strongly to the opinion that much good is done by these literary institutions, and we have not much' sympathy with the cry, that because they are free, they only afford an encouragement to loafers. In nearly all the little digging townships in Otago, there are free libraries, and in Victoria the custom has become almost universal. IMg»i»£ communities cannot, as a rule, be charged with any want of self-reliance, and we never heard that these free libraries tended to encourage loafing, or to lessen the manly spirit which prevails amongst the miners. On the contrary, it is satisfactory to observe the pride that is taken hi these institutions by some of these rough-looking but good-hearted men, and the handsome' donations of books and papers that are ftoxn time to time made to them. The institute is a credit to Hawera, as we hope the new building in course of erection at Normanby will be to the sister township. The institute affords a resting-place to those who have no home; and who often are far from friends. If it is closed, those who now seek relaxation there will probably be compelled to seek it in less desirable places. Free libraries . are to the small townships what the theatres are to some of the people in the cities. It would be one of the greatest losses that the place could sustain, were the institute to be even partially closed to the public. No doubt, though the demands on the purses of our citizens are many, the committee will receive such support as will enable them both to carry on for the present, and to go on and prosper in the future. We might, however, suggest that a yearly fancy fair and auction should be held. By that means, subscriptions in kind as weE as in cash could be received from nearly every member of the community. Some definite arrangements will have to be made ; but in the meantime, we trust that the appeal the committee are now about to make will be heartily responded to.