OPENING OF THE AKARO A LIBRARY AND LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 299, 28 May 1875, Page 4

OPENING OF THE AKARO A LIBRARY AND LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Although the Akaroa Library and Reading rooms were opened for the benefit of the members on the Ist day of May, the formal opening of the institute did not take place until last Saturday.. The delay was caused by the engagements of his Honor the Superintendent {preventing (his attending at an earlier date. For some years a small room in the Town Hall was used as a library and reading room, but it was found that larger and more commodious premises were necessary for the requirements of the district. Application was made to the Provincial Government, and a grant, first of £2OO, and subsequently a further grant of £IOO, were placed on the estimates. Plans of a new building were presented by Mr Farr, and its erection was intimated to Mr Cullen, who has carried out the work most satisfactorily. The accommodation provided consists of a large reading room 30ft long, in which the library has been placed, and two email rooms, one of which will be used as a reading room for ladies. The furnishing of the whole has been undertaken by Mr G. Scarborough, who in a very handsome manner has made himself liable for the expenses incurred, and in addition has given most raluable aid in establishing the institute. The present committee consists of Messrs A. Westenra, Scarborough, Beecher, Bruce, M'Gregor, Sims, and Billens. The president is Justin Aylmer, Esq, R.M., and the vicepresident the Rev W. H. Cooper. Mr Owen has been appointed secretary and librarian. There were several proposals as to the best way of exciting the greatest interest in the opening, and it was at last determined to invite his Honor the Superintendent to a public dinner, to ask him to deliver an address in the Town Hall, and to conclude the evening with a concert. The dinner was proTided by Mr Beecher, of Bruce's Hotel, and was put upon the table in capital style. In addition to the members of the committee, the following gentlemen were present:— Messrs G. Saxton, C. W. Bridge, H. Bridge, Coningsby, Denny, R.Townsend,E.C.Latter, H. Piper, &c. The chair was occupied by the president, who acted as toastmaster; and having proposed the usual loyal toasts of "The Queen," "The Prince of Wales and members of the Royal Family," " His Excellency the Governor," said he would propose the toast of the evening, " The Health of His Honor the Superintendent and the Provincial Council." His Honor' had, with his usual kindness and at great inconvenience, come to open this institute. There was no man who had done more for the Peninsula than Mr Rolleston. He had always been forward in using his influence to advance the interests of the community. He was sorry that they were so pressed for time that he could not do the toast the justice he wished; but would ask them to give it a hearty response. [Applause and musical honors.] His Honor said he'thanked them for the cordial way the toast had been received. He wished to assure them that it had always been a great pleasure to him to visit Akaroa. From the first time he had seen their beautiful scenery and harbour, about ten years since, he had been impressed with the importance of the district. He was not then officially connected with them, but since he had been, it had always been most gratifying to him to meet with the hearty response he invariably experienced when any project for the good of the district was proposed. He hoped the same kindly feeling would continue to exist between those who hold office and the people of Akaroa. (Mr Piper—" Yes, so it will, if they always treat us the same as you have done.") (Applause.) The Rev W. H. Cooper proposed the health of "Dr Watkins, the donor of the site." Hed'd not think he was wrong in sayiDg that there would not have been at present in existence the building they had met to open, but for the generous gift of Dr Watkins, and the thanks of the public were due to him. Dr Watkins was one of the first settlers in Akaroa, and his valuable gift is the best proof of the interest he has always taken in the advancement of the place. (Applause.) Mr S. Watkins, in the absence of his father, returned thanks for the toast. Mr McGregor said he rose to propose the health of the "Trustees of the institute." Although there were grave doubts as to the advisability of vesting such institutions in trustees, yet he felt that as long as such was the law, the trust could not be reposed in better hands. The three gentlemen who occupied the position of trustees had the confidence of every person in the community. The Rev. Mr Aylmer had been long the incumbent of the parish, and had worked amongst them at a time when it was almost impossible to get clergymen. Mr Garwood was a man of the highest commercial integrity, and Mr S. Watkins was the worthy son of a worthy father. He had much pleasure in giving the toast of " The Trustees." [Applause.] Mr S. Watkins briefly responded. His Honor said he had been asked to propose "The President, Vice-president, and Committee, and Success to the Akaroa Literary Institute." As he had been commissioned to give an address at a later period of the evening, he would only say that he had much pleasure in wishing the institute every success. The opening of the library was a great event in the history of Akaroa. Its success would in a great measure depend upon its management, therefore serious responsibility rested on those who had undertaken the position of managers. Mr J. Aylmer thanked his Honor for his good wishes, and said that although they were young in office they had every hope that their management would be successful. They were in a better position than their predecessors had ever been. It was true they had been obliged to incur some debt in starting, but he would say thatcthey were in such a position as he hoped would soon enable themio clear this debt off, and he believed a successful future before them. [Applause.] An adjournment then took place to enable those present to attend THE PUBLIC OPENING IN THE TOWN HALL. The Town Hall presented a very pleasing appearance, the stage being ornamented with flags, which took oft the bare appearance it generally presents at entertainments. Although the hall was not as well filled as might have been expected, still there was a very fair audience. At 8 o'clock the chair was taken by Justin Aylmer, Esq , R.M., the president of the institute, who, in a short opening address, spoke of the event of the evening as something to be remembered by the inhabitants of Akaroa, and said that the Literary Institute was, he was sure, destined to do a great deal of good, not only to the immediate residents in the town, but to the whole Peninsula. The present

committee had made every effort to make the institute attractive, and in order to induce a large number of persons to become members, the rate of subscription had been reduced to fifteen shillings per annum, which subscription admitted the wives of subscribers to all the privileges of the institute, and as a further inducement the children of members were only required to pay yearly five shillings. He hoped the public would appreciate the efforts that had been made to make the institute available for the greatest possible number, and by the adoption of a low rate of subscriptions to bring its benefits within the reach of all; The establishment of such an institute had been effected at a considerable outlay, and the means at the disposal of the committee were very limited, indeed he might say they had to struggle against difficulties. The Provincial Council had given very generous help by grants in aid both of the building and for books. Dr Watkin had presented a valuable site, and now it remained with themselves to show that they duly appreciated the benefits of such an institute by supporting it liberally. The rules of the institute were being printed, by which it would be seen that the readingroom would be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., but the books were not„to be removed from the library at any time during the day ; hours were appointed when the librarian would attend to issue books, and the committee had thrown the reading-room open during the day, trusting on the good faith of the members not to take out books at any time except when the librarian was present. If any breach of faith occurred it would lead to the closing of the readingroom in the daytime, but he had no doubt that the confidence reposed in the members would not be abused. The chairman then called upon his Honor the Superintendent, who delivered the following opening address .

His Honor said Ladies and Gentlemen—Yon have only done me justice in presuming that it would be a great pleasure to me to be present at the opening of your new building this evening. It is a matter of congratulation, not only to those who have devoted so much time and attention to its erection and to the formation of the library it contains, but to the district generally and to the Province which has contributed liberally to it. It will ever be a matter of satisfaction to me that the Province, at a time when it had means at its command, saw the wisdom of assisting in the promotion of such institutions, and that in all the centres of population, and in many of the outlying districts, institutions such as this have been initiated, which will not be suffered by those who have once felt their advantage to fall into disuse in less prosperous times, and which will have' a most important influence in every community where they exist. Up to the present time our libraries arid reading rooms, though assisted from the public funds, have been perhaps necessarily confined to those who have subscribed voluntarily to them. My hope is that ere long they may become part of the recognised public institutions, supported by the whole people of the district, and as freely open to all as our public domains and recreation grounds. It perhaps is not generally known that there now exists an Act on our own statute book (the Public Libraries Act, 1869,) which makes full provision for bringing libraries under the management of the local govern' ing bodies of the boroughs and districts, and enabling them to be supported by rates not exceeding Id in the pound. This last may not be considered an inviting feature of the enactment, but the sum is small, and the fact of support by such means instead of, as is now generally the case, by private subscriptions and membership, is the only fair argument for free admission to the public. Another feature of the Act which will probably have greater attractions to a people so fond of borrowing as we are, is that it enables loans to be raised on the security of this rate for the purpose of building. An Ordinance, as you are perhaps aware, has been introduced into our local Legislature which has for its object the constitution of managing bodies and the promotion of uniformity of regulations for libraries. It will, I hope, lead to the general adoption of the Colonial Act so soon as the legally constituted committees see their way to recommend this course, and the ratepayers become sufficiently sensible of its advantages. One feature of this Ordinance, which has already passed through the Council, is the recognition that meetings for social and intellectual improvement, and the providing of rational amusement and recreation, such as you propose to afford this evening, are necessary parts of such institutions. I should be glad, I say, to see these libraries more generally recognised as part of our educational system, for there appears to be much misconception both of the reasons which lead to the State interesting itself in the matter of education, and the scope of its duties in respect of it. To some, education, as promoted by the State, appears as a precaution against crime, an economical expedient to lessen police expenditure, and obviate the necessity of maintaining a large proportion of our population in gaol. By some it is looked down upon from a serene height, as a means of instilling such ideas of Jaw and order into those who form the less wealthy and more numerous portion of the community as will render property and its rights less likely to be invaded by the rude hand of the majority. By some it is regarded as a means of diffusing knowledge of a limited character (what is understood by the three R's) to such an extent as shall keep the working classes up to the levels of utilising our improved mechanical appliances, but shall not interfere with the blacking of our boots or the existence of a good class of servants. It is well that in this matter, as in many others, men are better than their creeds, and that their practice recognises truths far ahead of their profession of faith. It is in the promotion of institutions such as this that men show in practice that education rightly apprehended, is something more than a selfish precaution, something more than the diffusion of useful knowledge—thai it is as necessary to the healthy life of a people as the air they breathe, the clothes they wear and the food they eat, and that it comprises all that fits or tends to fit man as a rational being for the enjoyment of life in the society of his fellow men. Not only are these institutes complements of our school system, but their principal value, especially in isolated communities, is in the cultivation of social instincts which are the germ of national life. It is the misconception, or rather want of conception of this larger object, which is at first sight hard to reconcile with the active and zealous work which we see going on on all sides in the cause of elementary education. Those however whodo most are least conscious of their own merits, and are slowest

to be satisfied with results which to others appear of the highest importance. I have been surprised to hear men whose work in their several localities has been of the greatest value to primary education speak despairingly of the good of local administration. Their very zeal has led them to form too high a view of what can be attained, and the difficulties which have presented themselves have assumed in their mind a magnitude great in proportion to the sanguineness of their expectations. In our schools the effective instruction of children is but one half of the benefit which accrues. Education is " twice blessed; it blesseth him who gives and him who takes." The active work of a school committee is in its influence ou society, in its education of the older members of the community who interest themselves in it as beneficial as to those who attend the daily school. This kind of influence may be even more apparent in the local management of an institution such as this. In our schools—those of us at least who do not hold the three R's theory—must see in the advance of the past, promise of wider fields of teaching. To these public libraries more extended spheres of usefulness are open, according as they are well administered ; as promoting rational amusement and recreation by lectures, readings, and music; as nuclei of possible schools of possible schools of art in the future; and as connected with clubs which may save our young men from enforced association with loafers and drunkards, their benefit may be incalculable. Happily for the present at least we live in a country where " false pride in place and blood," where "the feud of rich and poor" are comparatively unknown. The evils we have to contend against are mainly those which proceed from what has been called the " hurry ofjmodern life," and from " isolation," coupled with the mental activity which is a characteristic of all classes of colonists. The cure for these lies, as I have said, in the cultivation of social sympathies. It is the want of sympathy, the want of rational pleasures, aud the want of friendly association of both sexes which leads to the wide spread of ourj two great vices—drunkenness and slander. This institute will be useful according as it affords the means of combating these demons. In conclusion, I have again to express the pleasure it gives to be present this evening. More of the future depends upon occasions such as this than may appear. To me it marks a stage of progress of more value than many a material conquest. All real advance springs from a natural development of healthily educated public feeling. We have much cause in times like these to fear that our desire for social progress may be to that for material advancement as Falstaff's halfpenny worth of bread to an intolerable deal of sack. In the words of one of the first and best of New Zealand's public men, "It is the often repeated lesson of history to ' seek first' something very different from material wealth. Woe to us if we allow ourselves to fancy that modern British colonies are exempt from the operation of this great moral and spiritual law, and free to bow down with impunity before the golden calf. When we consider how feeble an interest is commanded by such great social questions as the education of our youth and the treatment of our criminals as compared with the allabsorbing topic in each settlement how it shall secure to itself out of our common stock the largest possible wealth-producing expenditure ; nay, when we see even those things which are essential to the physical health neglected, and death left at the door of our undrained or half-drained towns or hamlets, whilst eagerness for gain confines expenditure to undertakings which seem to promise a money return, it will, I think, be admitted that we are in some real danger of forgetting the ends of life in pursuit of the means of living." " Et propter vitam vivendi perderecausas."

The Rev W. H. Cooper, vice-president, said he rose with great pleasure to move a vote of thanks to his Honor for the address he had just delivered. He had heard with much gratification the views enunciated in that address, and he hoped that the effects produced in the district would be those which his Honor anticipated. A means of education was provided in the library and reading room, which, in some measure, might counterbalance, the disadvantages of their isolated position. There was no doubt it was a great disadvantage to live so much shut out from the rest of the world, with so few opportunities of coming in contact with their fellow men. Those who lived in such a state of isolation were very apt to fancy their " Little Pedlington" the whole world, consequently their ideas, constantly running in one groove, were liable to become contracted. The three R's referred to by his Honor were to his mind the working tools by which a man was to educate himself. A man's education is not completed when he leaves school; indeed, it is only when he begins to exercise his powers of observation, and is brought iDto contact with men, that his education can be said to begin. Where the opportunities for mixing with the world and gaining experience cannot be had, works of history, biography, and travel, carefully read, will expand the mind, and, at all events to to some extent supply the want of intercourse with our fellow men. As the chairman had justly said, the future well being of the institute depended on our own exertions. The estimated yearly expenditure was about £75. It would therefore take 100 subscribers, at 15s a year, to support the institute. He hoped that that number would be forthcoming, for he wished them to bear in mind that the better the institute was supported the more useful and attractive it could be made. He would now move a vote of thanks to his Honor for his opening address. Mr E. C. Latter said he was very happy to second the vote of thanks that had just been proposed, and he had particular pleasure in doing so, because his Honor was always ready at any personal inconvenience to use his best exertions in order to further any object that was connected with the welfare and progress of the province. He might say that the intellectual progress of the province seemed especially his care, and it was impossible to over-rate the good effects of his influence upon society in general. He, though not now a resident in Akaroa, still took a lively interest in everything connected with the district, and he could not but congratulate them upon the advances they were making. He remembered when the library was first established a small room in a private house was sufficient for its requirements, then a step in advance was taken, and a room in the town hall was found to be necessary, and now there had been a further advance, and a commodious aud handsome building had beenr erected, He was sorry to hear that it

would require one hundred members to support the institute, but he hoped he would he permitted to urge upon them the necessity of supporting the institute, for unless it was fully and cordially supported, it would be of little use. He had much pleasure in seconding the vote of thanks. [Applause.] Mr R. Townsend said it had fallen to his lot to propose a vote of thanks, which would he was sure, carry them all with him. It was—" That the thanks of the public are due to Dr Watkius, for his gift of the valuable site on which the library has been erected." fApplauae.] The only canse from which failure could be anticipated, was a want of interest on the part of the inhabitants. He hoped the Rev Mr Cooper had made a mistake as to the number of subscribers required, as he really did not see where that number was to come from; he thought the action of the trustees was beyond all praise, and he could not say he agreed with the view that it was not advisable to vest such institutions in trustees. The best way to express their thankfulness to the donor of the site was to give the institution their cordial support. [Applause.] Mr C. W. Bridge said he had been asked to second the vote of thanks, which he had much pleasure in doing. He would only add to what the proposer had said by trusting that every inhabitant in the town would subscribe to the support of the institute. [Applause.]

A concert of vocal and instrumental music was then given, under the direction of Mr H. Bridge. A varied selection of songs, glees, and pianoforte solos and duets were very fairly rendered, and on the whole the concert may be said to have been a success. Votes of thanks were proposed and heartily carried to the performers and the chairman, and the evening's entertainment was concluded with the National Anthem.