EARLY HISTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26543, 19 August 1947, Page 4

EARLY HISTORY

DUNEDIN .ATHEN/EUM GOOD INFLUENCE IN COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL WORK One of the early ventures in the educational sphere in Otago, the Dunedin Athenaeum, has an interesting history. Known then as the Mechanics' Institute, it was founded in 1851 on a high ideal—the cultural and educational development of the community. Originally the institute was designed to arrange lectures and classes lor public instruction in such subjects as natural philosophy, history, astronomy, geology, chemistry, political economy, music, languages, and others, and meetings of the members were also to be held for- mutual improvement by way of essays, reading, and conversational inquiry, It was also intended to establish a reading room equipped with British and colonial papers and periodicals, and to set up a library and museum. The immediate necessity was the provision of a hall, and at the first meeting of the committee, presided over by the Rev. Dr Thomas Burns, it was decided to write to the Governor for a sum to be provided from the Parliamentary jgrant to New Zealand for the purpose. Consent was obtained from Captain Cargill, the agent for the New Zealand company, to build the hall on a vacant section at. the junction of Rattray and High streets on which Cargill’s Monument now stands, and a Crown title was granted to the site by the Supreme Court. The hall comprised two rooms capable of accommodating 100 ‘persons. Chequered Early Career The building remained on this site for 20 years, and was used not only for the purposes of the institute but for others helpful to the growing community. The building was eventually removed to Walker street to form an addition to a private home. The Government paid £2500 for the building and the land, the money to be used for a new building for the institute. In the 1850’s the institute had a chequered career, experiencing times of great prosperity and others of depression according to the support of the public. Through these years, however, it had a healthy educational and social influence on the community. Although it failed to carry out the aims of its founders in many ways it took a leading part in the general affairs connected with the settlement. Throughout these years a series of lectures —philosophical, literary, and scientific —was delivered by professional men and others. This was an innovation t’o the province, and as such drew large attendances of as many as 300 settlers. It was stated at this time that certainly no part of New Zealand had‘advanced as much as Otago in intellectual and social enjoyment. Merger of Institutions In 1859 a number of citizens of Dunedin decided to form an Athenaeum. They obtained a 14-year lease of a section at the corner of Manse and High streets from the Town Board for the nominal rent of 5s per annum. A merger of the two institutes was agreed upon, and it became the Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute. A more commodious building then became necessary, as the Mechanics’ Hall was inadequate. A building was erected on the Manse street site, but after a few years of great prosperity this also proved to be too small, and after much discussion and searching, it was decided to purchase the section in the Octagon on which the present building stands. The building was erected and occupied in 1870. The year started with a roll of members totalling 1174, and 7350 books. The sale of the interest in the lease of the High street property resulted in £9OO being obtained. The institute was duly incorporated on December 7, 1870, and on its twenty-first birthday on the new site the Otago Daily Times printed the following in a leading article: — “If the history of Dunedin be ever written, no chapter in it will more graphically portray its progress than that which details the rise and growth of the Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute from the pre-auriferous time when it occupied premises some 20 feet by 20 feet on the site to which Cargill monument is now being rer moved, to its present respectable building and long roll of members . . . “ With all these privileges and advantages considered relatively to our position as a community, there is room for some little self-gratulation and no need for any hesitancy in saying that we question if, thus looked- at, there is any equal in the Colossus. . . \ Costly Extensions

In 1878 the building again proved too small. In this year extensions costing £2OOO were made, giving a finer reading room and much-needed further accommodation for books. In 1879 the front portion of the building and the greater part of the contents of the northern end of the reading room were destroyed by fire. Continued steady progress was reported by the institute committee in 1890. In this year, after much advocacy of a free public library for the city, an association was formed with this aim in view. It submitted to the institute a proposal that a free library department should be incorporated in its activities, but it was found that a monetary deficiency would result. The v committee and association sent a joint deputation to the City Council, and as a result a vote was taken at the mayoral elections whether the citizens were in favour of meetii\g the deficit. By 962 votes to 843 they decided against the addition of the free library, and the association dropped its efforts. Once again, through the difficulty of housing all the books in the library, the Athenaeum was enlarged in 1900. The alterations included the provision of a chess, draughts and smoke room. These additions had the effect of increasing the popularity of the organisation. The Carnegie Public Library was opened in Dunedin in 1908, and the City Council approached the Athenaeum Committee to suggest the amalgamation of the two. but nothing came of the proposal. ‘ Plans for Reorganisation From that time up to the present the institute has continued*to make slow but steady progress. It now finds itself'faced with the problems of finding additional space for the circulating library books. Even with the large stock room in the basement, the shelving room is inadequate, and many valuable books are lost sight of by the reading public. The proposal suggested to the institute committee, and now adopted, is that the portion of the building at present occupied by the circulating library should be leased to the City Council and used as a women's rest rooms. The committee now proposes that the circulating library should be moved into the large and well-lighted portion of the “building now used as a reading room, with the reading room to occupy the rear portion of the reading room and chess room. Next year, the/ Centennial year of the province, will be the ninety-seventh in which the Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute has been in existence. The suggested new arrangement, it is considered by the committee, will be of benefit both to the city and to the institute.