A MECHANICS' INSTITUTE AND READING- ROOM.

West Coast Times, Issue 131, 17 February 1866, Page 2

A MECHANICS' INSTITUTE AND READING- ROOM.

TO THH EDITOR OF TOE WEST OOAST XIMB9.

Sic,— The rapid growth of tho town since tho first digger's tent was pitched on the beach has left little timo to think of many of tho institutions which have becomo a necessity in more eottlod communities, and it is therefore no matter for surprise that a publio library and reading room have not beon proposed beforo. • But Hokitika has now bocome an extensive placo, with a largo number of inhabitants, with churches, banks, a Supremo Court house, and all the machinery of government established ia our midst, and still thoro is no provision whatover for intellectual recreation. In tho absence of public amusements, or opportunity for social intercourse, people aro naturally driven to congregate in hotels after business is over, and the crowds whioh assemble in such places at night afford tho best evidence of tho necessity for Bomo such institution as is now suggested. It is not too muoh to say thut thero are many hundreds of persons in this place by whom such a moans of spending thoir leisure time in a profitable aud satisfactory -manner would bo eagerly embraced. Thero aro no difficulties whatovor to interfere with tho establishment of a Mechanics' Institute If tho matter wore once proporly initiated, no doubt a sufficient number of the publio would bo found to tako an interest in its success and carry it into execution. The preliminary expenses would not, bo vory great j tho Government would certainly give a sito for tho building, and thon a list might be opened for tho first yoar'e subscription. The same thing has been done many times in Otago whon tho population has not beon a tithe -of this.' If tho class of literature provided at first , included only periodicals, newspapers, and works published in a cheap form, it would be an immense boon to tho combmnity. Tho faot of having a respectablo public room in whioh to meet at night, whore chess and other amusements wero provided, would of itsolf bo no small gain. '' Tho success whioh has attended similar iu•titutions on tho other coast might be pointed to as an evidence of the appreciation in whioh thoy are generally held by tho colonial pxiblic ; and if thoy aro of advantage there, where so many other moans of occupation and amusement • exist, thoro can bjß no question of the benefit to bo derived from tho formation of such an institution in a place like thiß, whore thoro 11 absolutely nothing to be done after . dark.

Your obdedient servant, W. B. A.