THE LITERARY INSTITUE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 157, 12 November 1868, Page 2

THE LITERARY INSTITUE.

The first of a series of entertainments, instituted for the purpose of augmenting the funds of this institution, and extending its usefulness and popularity, took place at the Town Hull last evening ; and although the price of admission was small, we are sorry to say that the room was little more than half filled. Mr C. C. BmvEx delivered the opening address. He said that if speeches were to he made at all on an occasion like the present, he thought they ought to come at the end instead of the beginning- of the entertainment ; but as the committee had determined that it would be well to diversify the proceedings of the evening by a few remarks upon some subject of general interest, he would endeavour, without preaching a sermon, to make a suggestion on a subject which, he thought, might be interesting especially to those who were concerned in the welfare of the Literary Institute. It had been very often remarked' by those who had not much leisure to read, but who were anxious to devote what little time they had to study, that the field of literature was so vast that they really did not know where to begin. Of course, he spoke of those who had no bias in any particular direction, but who were anxious to commence some study of interest and instruction. Well, he did not think there was any subject, and at the same time one so easily attainable, and so generally interesting and instructive as that of history — the accumulated records of ages, without which we should now be running into all sorts of errors and mistakes. When he spoke of history, he was barely narrowing the question ; he was leaving the matter very open ; but in choosing a subject, he thought every man Bhould first of all consider the circumstances in which his lot in life was cast, and the chances of his future career. He thought that if he did this, every colonist would say that his first study should be that of the history of colonies. This, too, would be a very wide subject, for it would be the history of great adventures in every age and clime ; and although to those who had leisure it would be instructive to follow the history of those swarms of men who went forth fiom the middle of the Greek State to revive within a very few years the Mother State in opulence, in arms, and in learning, yet he thought to those who had moderate ambition it would, perhaps, be enough to say that at first they should study the history of British colonization. Here, he thought, they would find warnings of every kind of mistake and misfortune as well as heroic adventure carried out to a successful issue. In this history, they would learn the great lesson, that no community ever became great or was ever successful in the great work. of colonization, without an earnest national feeling, and an ambition for the welfare of posterity. (Cheers). That was the lesson above all which they had to learn here. In the history of the North American States, they found British men struggling with almost every difficulty that oouldbefala young people, but out of wiiich they issued triumphantly and became a great people, because they didn't go down on their knees to the mother country or anybody, to pray for help— because they depended only on God and themselves, because there was a germ of national feeling in the very first lot of colonists who emigrated to the New World, and because they had the ambition that their children's children should be a great and free people. That was their determination ; and without such a feeling, all attempts here to form a policy and carry it out to a successful consummation, would be utterly unavailing. The history of British colonization was therefore the most important study that could be undertaken, and he trusted that this would bo borne in mind. He would not further detain the meeting, beyond saying on the part of the committee, that while they did not wish to make these entertainments less amusing than those that preceded them had been, they would endeavour to make them as instructive as possible. (Cheers). The programme was opened by No. XI of Haydn's Symphonies, given by Mrs Hamilton (piano), Herr Biinz and Mr Alex. Lean (violin), Mr Triphook (clarionet), and Mr Lee, (violoncello.) The performance was admirable, although some might object a little to it on account of its extreme length. Mr Reeves followed with the reading of the story of Lefevre, by Sterne. The story is one which touches the sympathies in a large degree, when it is properly read. Mr Reeves was highly successful, especially in the closing scene, where the last moments of the poor lieutenant are related by the author in language, so pathetically impressive as almost to move an audience to tears. The reading was highly appreciated. A duett from Nor ma, by Herr Biinz and Mr Triphook, was admirably performed, and justified its being encored. Mr Alexander Lean read a chapter from Sam Slick. We have known this gentleman to read much better from the same work than he did last evening. The time was far too rapid, and there was an insufficiency of animation about the reading, which marred its success. Mr Lean, however, was loudly applauded. Mr Zeesler was encored in his song, which was followed by another reading. Mr Cottrcll was not so fortunate in his selection as on a former occasion. " Father Tom and the Pope," is not a fit story to be read before a mixed audience, for very obvious reasons. It will be well if the committee would undertake the duty of supervising the subjects chosen by the readers. Mistakes of this sort would then in all probability be avoided. A glee given by Mrs K. Thompson, and Messrs McCardell, Appleby, and Lee, was highly appeciated. The entertainment was closed by the singing of the National Anthem. The object for which these entertainments have been established, is one well deserving the support of the public, and we trust the

committee will succeed to the fullest extent in the work they have undertaken. We must not forget to mention the kindness of j Mrs W. J. W. Hamilton in presiding at the piano during the evening. The next entertainment will be duly announced.