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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 7491, 1 June 1885, Page 2

Mr 1. K. Macdonald suggested at the meeting of members of the Athemeum on Friday night that a few of the wealthy men in Wellington should come forward and subscribe amongafc them half the Bum necessary to defray the cost of convertings the institution into a free library. We should be glad to sea the hint taken; but why did not Mr T. K*. Maci>onaii>

go further and suggest that the aforesaid rich men shpilld put doVrn the full Bum required) as well as an amount sufficient to endow and catty DU the Athonaimm handsomely after it had been declared a free institution I The fact is that neither suggestion is at all likely to bear fruit, nor are the pockets of the comparatively fewr&h men the source which should be depended on to make AthenSiun iree and flourishlug. We do not doubt that the rich men could buy the whole affair, and make the city a present of it; but the public has ho right to look for surth genetUsity, and the rich men might, with great propriety, a&k thofce who are interested in the Athenteiam —Why do you not help yoiiraelves iln his opening Remarks the Chairman said that u the report may be considered fairly satisfactory,” but that depends very riiuch on what should be considered the standard .rtf perfection in such a matter, 'Out opinion is that, considering, on the one hand, the population of Wellington, and, on the other, the objects of tho Athenaeum and the advantages it offerfr, the state of the institution Is hflt at all satisfactory., That is,the fAult of the citi • , tens* Who, if they chose to make something like a united and strenUofls effort, would be able tC get together quite as much as tiie f rich men could give them, ana .would, at the same time, be able to reffect comfortably on the.fact that they had helped themselves. With : all due deferehCe to the management, we cannot helji thinking that if active measures were constantly taken to push the Athenaeum under the notice of the people, the result would be an enormously in* , creased number of subscribers. , ( At present wo see no other way to advance the of the institution.