ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 375, 4 March 1863, Page 5

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

THB DUNEDIN MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. |

(To the Editor of the Otago Daily Times.) Sir, —Dunedjn has the honour of possessing one of .these noble helps to knowledge—a Mechanics' Institution, a society to which any young man may repair and make the acquaintance of those master minds whose writings have so greatly tended to advance man in the social s<'ale. But though the present, state of ths Institute, compared to whtt it was, confers great credit on the Committee and it 3 efficient officers, tliere is much yet to be done before they can lay claim to rest from their labours ; and I am sure the body of gentlemen alluded to will take the suggestion I have to offer as emanating from one who has a sinceve desire to see their Institution the most complete of its kind in tlie Southern Hemisphere. I ma<y premise that the ideas I here promulgate are gathered from a long connection with a similar institution iv Victoria. One of the greatest wants of the Dunedin Institute is that of classes. No institution can ba considered complete without them. They are to the society as the sails to the ship—without them it can belittle more than stationary. There are hundreds ;of young men and adults whose education in early 1 life being sadly neglecte I, are consequently not well np in the three great "R" —Reading,'Riting, and 'Rithmetic. Now what more in accordance with a Mechanics' Institution than to establish sections for the cultivation ot these important rudiments of education 1 Then, again, what class so beneficial as one for the study of tbe nobie science of music. Asfaraslknow theie is not in DuneJin, far and wide, such a section. Surely w-? are not all money-grubbers, with no minel for anything but acquiring pelf. Surely some of the Oentlemen of Committee have "■ ears," for that best of Heaven's gift—mnsiq. If they have, let them show it by calling a meeting of all ladies and gentlemen d@3irous of forming such an association. VVho knows what Lablaclws or Jenny Linds are wasting their sweetness on the musical desert of Dunedin.

, But before any such classes as I have indicated, can at all be successful, there is one bye-law of the Institute which must he amended -that is, No. 10— which states that the annual subscription shall be Ll 10s i there is no provision made whatever for associates iv the shape of ladies, and youths under 18 yeiirs of age. In every Mechanics' Institute in Australia that lam acquainted with, associates (ladies and youths) are only charged h&lf the ordinary rate of subscription; the only difference being that they have no power to vote. The advantages of this rule are self-evident. In ihe first place, it attracts ladies to the building; and we all know if a debt is to be cleared off wbo are the best parties to take the matter in hand. Tben, again, how desirable it is to have the rising generation interested in an Institute specially designed for their improvement. ' To the Musical Cass there would require to be a small charge for the purchase of books, &c. ; the other classes should be free to all belongiug to the Institute. Teachers would doubtless, easily be found from amongst the ranks of its members. I now come to another subject—Lectures. Pepular. Lectures add greatly to the success of any Institute." Tliere ought to be a winter and summer course, extending over a period of..four yon ths each, and 'being delivered fortnightly, exoapt in extraordinary casus. Members and associates should not only be free, but have tlie privilege ot introducing a friend, also free of charge. Non-members might be charged, say 6s. A good course of Lectures will bring more members to an Institute than any scheme that can possibly be devised. I am well aware that the only answer to these suggestions of inaugurating classes and lectures will be "we have no hall suitable for the purpose." All that I can say to tbis is, that it is high time that one should be built. It is a disgrace to its_ inhabitants that Dunedin, the principal town in New Zealand, and whioh bids fair to be only second only to Mcl-

bourne iv this part of the Globe, should possess no building where lectures, classes, conversaziones balls, or public meetings oouid conveniently be held.

A suitable hall, capable of accommodating say 600 people, could lie erected for nearly as many pounds. Then, again, how is the money to be raised 1 As is customary in Victoria, Government or the Town Council should be called on to oontrjfiute one-third ; another third could surely b« raised bypuhlicsubseriptiqn, leavingsay l-200yettobe arrangedforthisamount could easily I tbink be met by the issue and sale of 40 L 5 debentures, bearing, say 10 per cent interest, and terminable 1, 2, and 3 years. The commiitee would surely raise the sum, L 260, in the course of 3 yews for this purpose. There would be tho balance of the income over the expenditure of the Institute; but without that the whole amount could be raised in the time sp cified by means of soircSs, convertaziones, balls, and a grand public fete held in, say Vauxhal! Gardens on Nejv Year's Day, when a sort of Caledonian Gathering might take place.

But I must hasten to n c'oso, one other matter's** I am clone.

The Instifue I have had the honor of being connected with was, I believe, the first in Victoria to establish a Penny Bank within its walls. The Bink was v complete success, for in a few weeks, its depositors numbered 250.

Could the Dunedin Institute start such another bank ; the details are few and simple—an accountant secretary, efficient trustees, anil auditors are all tlie officers required, the bank being open every Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m , and tlie siimllfst amounts from Id upwards beiug received. How many hundreds of pounds would be saved annually if such a society was established, the majority of your roalers will doubtless be better able to answer than Yours, &c, , Advance Dunbdik.