Cariboo Literary Institute

Our Cariboo Letter.  (From our regular Correspondent)  Barkerville, Oct. 6, 1865.

CARIBOO LITERARY INSTITUTE. – Two years ago a large party of miners on this creek, being at a loss how to spend the long winter evenings, agreed to meet once a week at the hospital buildings and there debate some social, historical, philosophical or any other important question – each one to contribute his stock of knowledge for the benefit of all.  Having assisted at several of the debates I was most agreeably surprised to find so much practical information and knowledge among those whom people are often inclined to look upon as “rough miners.”  Things went on very smoothly during the whole winter, and in the spring the most of the members of the Debating Club raised by subscription among themselves a small sum of money for the purpose of building a house for their meetings.  A code of by-laws was drawn up in the meantime, and it was agreed that some useful books and newspapers should be bought for the benefit and instruction of every individual who would subscribe a small sum monthly to defray expenses.  The Literary Institute is now in a most prosperous, flourishing condition.  The bud has become a tree which bears good fruit.  The number of subscribers paying $2 per month each is now about 100; it rose during the fair season to 150; ten volumes are exchanged every day on an average.  The library contains 283 volumes; 37 having been given personally by Gov. Seymour.  The Revs. Messrs. Garrett and Duff have contributed most liberally by giving some very valuable books.  The Government has done nothing so far but granted the trifling sum of $90 to defray some expenses incurred by the fitting up of the reading room.  If a small sum of money should be voted by the Legislative Council and appropriated to increase the number of volumes and defray general expenses, such a measure would meet with the hearty thanks of the miners and would be a great boon conferred on this section of the country, for nothing tends so much to elevate the morals of a mining community as the reading of good books.  To this I most earnestly call the attention of the member for Cariboo district.