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Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 766, 25 September 1878, Page 2

Mr.. BisioF, M.H.R., who has always taken a warm interest in the affairs of the Oamaru Mechanics' Institute, is using his utmost endeavours in Wellington to secure to the Managers of that Institution borrowing- powers up to the sum of 1.3000, to accomplish which object a Bill wili, of course, have to pass the two Houses of j Legislature in the usual manner. It is pretty well known that power to bor- | row 'LIOOO lias already been granted : and it is bi cause this sum is insufficient I to carry out the design of the Committee ! that- it is sought to double the amount. ! The nnnoipal consideration with those to i whoi.il ilie .i.pjic-;;' is being made to grant | the privdege of borrowing another LKiGG, is whe. ; -- r or nor, the money will be judiciously and usefully expended. We need merely state what it is proposed to do with. . and leave those interested to jud. The present building is far too sm.-ii. now to answer the most, ordinary ournoses for which a Mechanics' Institute is used, to : -.<y nothing of the total absence of adaptation to the nnrnei-oiii adjuncts which in modern daj's are properly considered part and parcel of such institutions. The lecture room is so mean in size that it septus to forbid the entrance of anything like so large- an audience as' should be expected to congregate in Oamarti on occasions such as those for which the room is used. The Library- is far too strait to accommodate the hooka that are already purchased by the Institute, and acts as a barrier to the procuration of additional wcife that: should be found in the public library of any town of the population and importance of Oamaru. The Reading Room is affected with the same complaint as that which renders the Lecture Room unfit for the purposes for which it should be used. There are conveniences for the perusal of the papers and periodicals for a limited number of persons—such a number as might have been expected to frequent the room when the present building was in its infancy. The Committee very reasonably desire to alter this state of matters. Mechanics' Institutes; should and must, to continue their usefulness, take their place in the march of progress, and keep pace with the rapidity of growth for which Colonial communities are so celebrated. To accomplish this object it is proposed to erect a useful building upon the present &iie, the plans of which have already been prepared, It is not, however, intended to complete the building immediately ; but merely to adopt that portion of the plan for the present that would enable the affairs of the Institute to be can-ied on with the greatest amount of efficiency for the smallest expenditure. Although it is not the intention of the Committee to immediately carry out the whole of the proposed plans, it is well that some design should be adopted which can be completed as facilities are afforded for doing so, without impairing the appearance of the building, either in its complete or incomplete state. We believe that it is suggested to build the front portion of the building, including two places of business, the revenue from which would more than pay the

whole of the interest on the money proposed to be raised, the upper floor to consist of ladies' and gentlemen's reading rooms, etc. The hall would be at the rear of the building and fronting Steward-street, and the old building would be used as library rooms. It would be advisable for those who contemplate the.erection of public halls to come to some understanding with regard to the matter. It would be a pity if the late dearth of places for public purposes should produce the proverbial redundancy. In the interests of the spread of knowledge, we hope that no obstacle will be thrown in the way of the accomplishment of the designs of the Committee.