MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 322, 7 February 1844, Page 3

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Subjoined is a copy of the address presented on Wednesday utet to Captain Fitzroy, by the Officers and Committee of the above Institution, together- -with his Excellency's answer thereto.

The deputation were received with marked courtesy, his Excellency expressing himself as most favourably disposed towards them, promising to remedy by all the means in his power the hitherto oversight of the Local Government in not hay' ng applied funds for the support of schools in this and the other settlements; and consented to honour the Institute with his name as Patron.

His Excellency not considering the reserve on Lambton-quay large enough for the purposes of the Institute, met Colonel Wakefield and Mr. Lyonthe next day, to endeavour to find a more ample site, but after examining several reserves, and none appearing more eligible, the former grant was confirmed. ADDRESS. To His Excellency Robert Fitzroy, Esquire, Captain in Her Majesty's Navy, Governor and Vice Admiral of the Colony or New Zealand, and

its Dependencies, &c. t ßcc. We, the Officers and Committee of the Port Nicholson Mechanics ..Institute, -Public School and Libraty, acting in the name and

on behalf of the members of that Institution, gladly avail ourselves of the earliest opportunity of congratulating your Excellency upon your safe arrival amongst us.

We cannot but express the hopp your Excellency's high character has enkindled, that the progress of British Institutions and civilization in these Islands will now be permanent and rapid.

To effect this, nothing is more important and necessary than education, both for our own and the native youth, and while the Mechanics Institute regards the education of the young as one of the great objects it has in view, it is no less anxious that useful instruction should he placed within reach of the Artizan, that his leisure time may be devoted to intellectual improvement.

His Excellency the late Acting Governor recognised our exertions in these respects by granting to us, during his visit in January, 1842, a portion of the Reserve ou Lambonquay, for the erection of a more suitable building than the one we then occupied, and from which we have since been removed by the ' operation of the Raupo House Ordinance.

The Mechanics Institute, Public School, and Library, was established in May, 1842, since which date a large number of children have received instruction in all the useful branches of education at a moderate charge. The average number of scholars at present attending is sixty. The number of adult members has varied from one hundred and twenty to seventy ; numerous Lctures have been delivered and various classes formed.

We respectfully venture to suggest to your Excellency, that having accomplished this without assistance from any public source, our operations have been necessarily limited, and we therefore solicit such aid at the hands of your Excellency as may enable us to accomplish our objects with greater efficiency.

We would humbly call the attention of your Excellency to the important part we have taken in the spread of education, and to the success which has attended our efforts, and we feel assured that under your Excellency's enlightened and fostering care, wfe shall be enabled to carry out still more vigorously those means by which we hope to aid in the moral and intellectual advancement of the community. Signed by the officers and committee. .. REPLY. . \ Wellington, January 31, 1844.

Gentlemen, — Allow me to thank you sincerely for your cordial congratulation on my arrival, and to assure you that no exertion shall be spared on my part to promote the progress of British Institutions and civilization. The education of our own and the aboriginal native youth is unquestionably a most important object, and it is very desirable that useful instruction should be placed within reach of the artizan. I, shall take care that a suitable locality shall not be wanting for the building s and convenience of your Institution. Such aid as the Government may become enabled to grant with propriety, will be most willingly given. I am quite aware of the part you have already taken in "the spread of education, and of the success which has attended your efforts. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, Your faithful servant Robert Fitzroy, Governor.