Dunedin, Saturday.Ferbury 28, 1852.

Otago Witness, Issue 41, 28 February 1852, Page 2

Dunedin, Saturday. Ferbury 28, 1852.

A few blocks of yellow sandstone have been lying for some days on a small green patch in the centre of Dunedin, and have been exciting the curiosity of many of the inhabitants of the town. These stones are to form the steps and bases of the pillasters of the intended Mechanics' Institution — a building which will possess a peculiar interest in the eyes of the public, as being the first of its kind in the settlement, and as also a work constructed by their own efforts, and at their own expense. Like most schemes having for their object the benefit of the community, this Institution has had to struggle against many disadvantages. It has been libelled, and its objects misrepresented, and it has consequently not received that support from some of the wealthier part of the colonists of Otago that might have been expected : nevertheless, it is in a fair way of raising its head in independence, free from patronage, and therefore possessing great claims to support from the working' classes with whom it originated. Few except the immediate promoters of the scheme appear aware of the manifold advantages to be derived from its development. Otago claims the merit of being a community in which all, with a fractional exception, can both read and write — advantages which cannot be too highly appreciated; but if these advantages are to lie dormant, and no us.c is to be made of them, men. will become careless.; and though the art once acquired is never lost, they will -neglesWo-give their children the" same opportunities as they themselves enjoyed.' They may consider the service of their sons in the fields of more importance 4han anything else; they -away say, a man may reap, sow, or perform the" ordinary occupation of field labour without education, and thus become content with .their lot. We \ find this the case in many agricultural counties, in England especially, and the world proceeds smoothly enough ; but ;

in the colonies education is of, even greater importance than at home. Here ! so many opportunities occur of a man rising to a higher position than he was born in, that it is almost madness to let those opportunities slip from want of education. In the home country the difficulties of rising from the station in which a man is placed are great ; every station, every occupation is filled to overflowing; yet even there we find instances of men of the humblest position rising to eminence and fame. The [ editor of our distinguished prototype the " Edinburgh Witness" was a working mason, daily labouring at his trade, but found time to study geology, and first broughthimself into public notice by a work on that subject, and he has now acquired a lasting fame. What reason is there that men in equally humble stations here should not succeed to as high a fame? Here a man has more leisure than at home : he is not so perplexed with the care of his family : the openings are so plentiful that with honesty, sobriety, and industry, they are sure to succeed. The colonies, too, are a new field for many sciences — geology, botany, mineralogy, &c, &c. ! Any man who had the requisite know- | ledge might acquire distinction by rej cording facts which are every day I visible to his senses, but without that j knowledge, are passed unheeded : and i the means of acquiring this knowledge could not be better found than in the j well-selected library of a Mechanics' ! Institution. ! Of course it is not to be expected | that all will become learned and fam- j ! ous ; but there are advantages and enjoyments of a lighter kind which need ! <l only to be placed before the public j generally to ensure their support. All the lighter reading, the interesting j works of the clay, are not to be procured ; upon any other terms than by clubbing j the means of paying for them. This is one of the objects of the Institution ; and we understand that upwards of £20 worth of newspapers, periodicals, po- I pular works, &c, have been ordered' by i the Committee on their own responsibility, and will probably arrive before i the completion of the building, — presenting a fund of instruction and j amusement almost invaluable — giving a tone to conversation less monotonous than the prices of wool and corn, and less bitter than the constant discussion of politics. We trust, then, that the few stones which have awakened the curiosity of the public will awaken to higher objects, and that the Mechanics' Institution will become the corner-stone of a system of self- education equally beneficial and honourable to the community, j

Anniversay Fete. — A meeting was held in the Royal Hotel on Monday evening 23rd inst., Dr. Manning in the Chair, for the purpose of making preparations to celebrate the Anniversary of the arrival of the first settlers at Otago. After making some preliminary arrangements, the meeting adjourned till Monday next, Ist March, when it will be decided in what manner the Anniversary is to be celebrated. We may add, that the sum of about £20 was subscribed at the meeting on Monday evening.