UNVEILING THE STATUE OF MINERVA.

Southland Times, Issue 2462, 3 July 1876, Page 2

UNVEILING THE STATUE OF MINERVA.

Saturday, the first of July, will be deservedly remembered in connection with the history of the Invercargill Athenaeum as a red-letter day, for on that day the building was completely finished by the ceremonious unveiliog of the statue of. Minerva, which now* graces the fore summit; of the institution. When the subscribers decided on the erection of the building, they resolved that the plans should provide for such, an ornament, and now the noblo edifice — so noble that it has few equals in the' Australian colonies—has been completed in literal accordance with the plans— a cause for congratulation on all sides. The weather on Saturday was glorious, and after 12 o'clock considerable numbers of people began to assemble in Dee street to witness the Ceremony. At a little before 1 o'clock the President, Mr Peter McEwan, and members of the present committee, together with members of previous committees, met in the Library, and about the same time, a detachment of the Artillery Corps commanded by Lieutenant Kingswell passed along to the end of Clyde street to be ready at". a given signal to fire a salute, and the "Volunteer Band took up its position in the reading room. The President, members of the Committee, His Worship the .IMayor, and other gentlemen then made their appearance on the I footpath under the statue, and the President's daughter, Miss McEwan, then unveiled the statue, the artillery firing a salute, and the band playing the National Antbem. Hereupon the President, amidst the cheers of the people, declared the final completion of the Athenseum building. Afc the request of Mr Hatch, one of the Committee, three cheers were given specially for the institution. At this stage Messrs Coxhead Brothers, from the upper part of the warehouse of Messrs Bkensteen and Hall, took a photograph of the scene and the assemblage. His "Worship the Mayor then congratulated the Committee, members of the institution, aud the public on the successful completion of the building by the erection and unveiling of so appropriate an ornament as the statue of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. Nothing could have been in better taste, under the circumstances, than the erection of such a statue, which, as they could all now see with their own eyes, gave additional grace to the noble building, which was an honor to the street architecture not only of Invereargill, but New Zealand. Many fine buildings had of late years been erected in Invercargill, and many more were on the eve of being built, but he was sure it would be a long time before anything arose which, figuratively speaking, would make the Athenseum hide its head in shame. Such institutions were of vast importance as a means of popular education, and were particularly desirable in a free country, whose people elected their own rulers. The people of free countries could not be too well educated, and hence the great usefulness of such educational agencies as Athenaeums, which could not co-exist with despotism, for they served not only to spread intelligence, but to foster freedom. Ho begged again to congratulate the public on the successful completion of the building, (cheers.) The President then said — Mr Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen, — On the occasion of celebrating the entire completion of this Athenaeum, the opportunity seems a fitting one to place on record a short account of the history of the undertaking. On 28th June, 1870, a public meeting was held at the Council Hall, W. Wood, Esq., the then Superintendent of the Province of Southland, in the chair. At that meeting, a committee was appointed to consider the question of opening a reading room, and another public meeting was held on 27th July when a number of gentlemen enrolled themselves as subscribers to an institution to be called 'The Invercargill Atheneeum.' The 27th July 1870, may therefore be said to be the birthday of this Institution. On that day Rules were adopted and officers were elected (the first President being Mr T. M. Macdonald;. The room above the present Colonial Bank was rented for a reading room, and here, with a limited supply of newspapers, but no library, the early days of the Institution were passed. At -the first annual meeting in February 1871, Mr Macdonald was reelected President, and during the ensuing year the Committee succeeded in placing the Institution in such a position that ita permanent establishment and ultimate financial stability were secured. For it was daring this year that the site whereon the present truly magnificent building now stands, was obtained. The Carapbelitovn Hundred Eeserye of 450 acres, was also secured to the Athenreum during this year. The Institution was also incorporated by Ordinance, and a library commenced, so that at the second annual meeting in January 1872, the Committee reported that the library then consisted of 203 works. The debt on the Institution was then £62, and fche annual income about £108. In February, .1873, the third annual meeting was held, and in the statement then presented, it was shown that during the previous year the library had increased to above 400 volumes. In the following year the income increased

to £140, and the library had expanded to about 500 volumes. The Architect had prepared the plans of the present building, tenders for its erection had been called, and the Provincial Government bad granted £520 toward the building fund. At this meeting, Mr George Lumsden was elected President. In January .1875, .the fifth annual meeting was held, Mr.Cuthbertson being then President, and the report then showed a marked advance in the prospects of the Institution ; the library had increased to 1000 vol?, the receipts to upwards of £200, exclusive of £520 received from Govern- ' ment, and nearly £600, the proceeds of the Bazaar, both of which amounts were ■ specially applied to the building fund. The foundation Stone had been laid with masonic honors by Mr W. Craig, the then worshipful master of the Southern Cross Lodge, assisted by the various public bodies of the town. A loan of £3500 had been negotiated with the Otago and Southland Investment Co., and the nucleus of a museum had been established by . the . presentation of valuable specimens hy .Captain Hutton, and Messrs Pettigrew, Pearson, and other gentlemen. ■/ It would be hardly doing justice to the Architect and designer, 3VXr Angus Kerr, were I to omit placing on record f that the building has -been erected^k^ strictly according to his plans, arid^^T. under his supervision, and I must say that there ,is but one opinion on the point, that it reflects the highest credit upon his skill as an architect, and also upon the Contractor, Mr Menzie3, for the faithful manner in, which the work has been carried out. The history of the Institution now brings us to the year ending 3rd Dec 1875, which was a period of great importance to the future of the Athenasura. An additional reserve of about 1100 acres at Waikiwi. had . been, secured by Grown Grant, and the site known as the Post Office corner, perhaps the most valuable buildinar site in the town, had been obtained from the Government in exchauge for some of the Esk Street frontage. These very valuable acquisitions form an endowment capable of raising the Invereargill Athenseum to the foremost rank of literary and educational institutions in New Zealand. During the year 1875, the library had expanded to about 1900 vols. And the annual meeting in February, 1876, was the first one held in the new building. Large and valuable additions to the Museum have been ,made by purchase, nearly £400 having been expended in, this manner. The reading rooms are supplied with a largely increased number of periodicals, and I make bold to say that no institution in the Australian Colonies, with so. small; a list of subscribers, can boast of such ample provision for their instruction, entertainment, and comfort. Mr Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen, I must apologise for detaining you so long with these dry details, but you will allow me to express the hope that the crowuiog ornament of the edifice may be recognised by the people of Southland not merely as a grand monument of artistic skill; not merely as the beautiful conception of the ancient sculptor; but that it may be viewed as symbolical of the patronage of learning and wisdom, and the fine arts, which are the chief characteristics of advanced civilization, and I may express the hope that the rising generation of Southland may be taught to look up to the Heathen Goddess, and to know that though by the spread of the Christian religion, she has beeiftf[ deprived of her mythical divinity, th<^^ grand conception of the ancients as symbolically represented by the sfcatua of Minerva, will remain as long as art and learning flourish and cilsization advances. Mr Kerr expressed his satisfaction at the public appreciation of the successful issue of: his labors as architect of the building ; and he referred in highly complimentary terms to the .. contractor, Mr A . Menzies^ and the clerk ofjvorks, Mf'W. Boyd. Mr McArthur, secretary of the Athenjeuni, remarked that although the present committee had not been lax in the performance of its duties in, connection with the erection of .the | building, yet its success was in great part due to the exertions of the previous committee; and at his request three cheers were given for those gentlemen. ■■■■■> Mr W. Craig, who, as Worshipful Master of the local lodge of Freemasons, had laid the foundation-stone of tbebuilding, made some appropriate remarks. Cheers having been given for the President, the Athenasum, and his Worship the Mayor, the proceedings terminated, the President thaokiug his Worship for his kindness in taking part in the ceremony. The party then adjourned' to the Club Hotel, where the toasts of success to the Athenaeum, and the health of Miss McEwan, who had unveiled the statue, were drunk in champagne.-and thus ended a very becoming public demonstration. " ' '