The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, April 20. Winter Evening Lectures

Southern Cross, Volume 3, Issue 3, 20 April 1895, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, April 20. Winter Evening Lectures

Many of our citizens retain pleasant recollections of the admirable lectures which, a few years ago, distinguished one winter season in Invercargill. The series was arranged by a committee of local citizens, and they worked so well that the lectures were largely attended, and in addition, the promoters, after “ paying their way,” found themselves in the happy position of being able to make a donation to the funds of that highly deserving institution, the Sixpenny Clothing ClubCv' T.he lecturers .. were, for the most part, gentlemen from a distance, professors,' doctors, and clergymen; and’ their subjectsineluded biography, physiology, industrial problems, and other topics .’.of interest. The lectures undoubtedly owed their success in part to the element of curiosity—to the desire to see and hear men who had never before, or only at longintervals, delivered public addresses in Invercargill. At the same time there was no question as to the quality of the, mental .far,e,provided— it was of the best, and the lectures must nav,e. stimulated thought and led to intellectual development. Now ■that the long winter evenings are 1 fast approaching, the question suggests itself —Would it hot be possible to have another, series;of lectures on the lines of those Under notice ? There is no lack in town of societies that are mainly recreative in character. As for amusements, so many professional companies have come this 1 way of late that, people are,ready to cry ‘‘‘ Hold, enough !” Under these nircrunstances it seems to us that a : capital opportunity presents itself -for repeating the work of a fe\V winters 'ago. -‘'iSince then' there' have been Here, and in other parts of the colony, a good,many changes in the ranks of clergymen, professors, and other public speakers, and it should notbe difficult to Secure the services of a'corps of lecturers —a combinationof local . and . outside thinkers —who : would have, something to say worth hearing. ■ We commend the matter to' those;‘interested in the intellectual or higher ' life of Hie community. A little energy and a little organisation, and the thing would be done. ■ ■■ ■ ■ • n