BALCLUTHA ATHENZEUM.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 8, 27 August 1874, Page 5

BALCLUTHA ATHENZEUM.

A meeting of subscribers to the above institution, called by the Interim Committee, was held in Mr. Barr's Hall, on Monday evening. It having preyiously been known that matters of great importance to the institution, and upon which a diversity of opinion existed, would be brought for decision the members attended tbe meeting en masse. His Worship the Mayor was called to the chair. He explained that the meeting had been called chiefly with the object of selecting a site for the buildiner, electing office-bearers, committee, &c. In connection with the site he said the Committee had offers of peveral and he trusted the subscribers would lay aside all personal feelings and interests in the matter, and select that which was best suitf d for such an*institution. and for the convenience bf the town generally. .He called upon the Secretary to explain the present position of matters. The Secretary (Mr. A. Grigor) reported that on the 22nd of April a public meeting was Called to consider ;how to utilise the large a*ul valuable collection of books belonging to - the district. The gentlemen present were of opinion that this end would be best attained by establishing an Ath,enseum — that is, in the words of the similar institution in Tokomairiro, "an institution to provide a suitable library and readingroom, and by every other attainable means to promote the diffusion of inforrriation and instruction in literature, science and Art." Accordingly a committee was formed to carry out this object. This committee have busied themselves in obtaining as many members to the contemplated insti-' tution as possible, and have succeeded in getting 120 members, guaranteeing the first yearly subscription of one guinea. They have inquired for the most suitable sites, offered a bonus of L 5 for plans and specifications for the building which may. be approved of; and have been making inquiries through Mr. J. M'Neil about the Government grant in aid. The committee are enabled to lay before the. meeting for their consideration, the following sites : — Ist; The orisinal Government Athenaeum Reserve in Renfrew street ; 2nd. An adjoining section which could be purchased from the Government at the upset price of Ll2 10s ; 3rd. An eighth of an acre oppo site Barr's Hall, offered by Mr. .Joseph Robertson, and 4th, a quarter- acre in North Ward, offered by Messrs. Stewart and Gow. Having done this preliminary work, they have called this meeting of the members, first, to decide upon the site ; second, select plans and specifications for building ; third, aproint managers, viz., President, Y'ce- President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Committee ; fourth, deside what will be the amount of life merhbers' subscription. Mr. J. T. Ritchie proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Messre. A. Stewart and Joseph Robertson, for their handsome offers of sites for the Atheoajnm building. Mr. Renner secondedj and the same was carried. with applause. I Mr. Dunne proposed that the site offered by the Government be accepted. Mr. M'Neil, senior, seconded. Mr. A; Stewart trusted T;he meeting would proceed in this matter in a fair and straightforward manner and with the aim of doing justice to all. The ground offered by Mr. Robertson, he said; was saddled with the condition that it must be built upon, t and was unsuitable inasmuch as it was siihply a gully, it bad been said that we should ndt look a gift horse in the mouth, but unfortunately ihe gift under offer was all a mouth together.- (Laughter) As to the site on the north side of the bridge, it certainly might not be convenient for the inhabitants of the sou ill end of the town, but a site at the |south end would be equally inconvenient for those iv North Ward; whose interests had a right to be considered. He did not consider the main street a suitable site fo> such a building, and referred to the recent lowering of that street; the probabilities of flooding, and the loss they had already sustained- to their valuable books by floods. He thought, therefore, a dry site should be selected % he hated dry reading but preferred to read in a dry place. If the site offered by h»s firm was not considered the most suitable, he wduld be most happy to hand to the Athenajum its value iv books.— (Applause.) The site offered by the Government in Renfrew' street, he considered in every respect suitable and he therefore would support the motion.

Mr. Ross agreed with all that had been advanced by Mr. Stewart, and also pointed out that the Renfrewvatreet site was central for the whole taVroship, and that the frequenters' of the reading-room would be free from all disturbance which would not be the case if the building were* erected in tbe main street. ...

Mr. Sanderson said the site offered by the Government was no douot a good one, and safe from all danger by flooding but the building could be made perfectly safe from damage by floods anywhere. Besides, he thought that all buildings which would tend to the ornamentation of the town should be built in uniformity and upon sites where this object would be accom -

pli>hed. They should be placed in main streets, not back streets where they would never be- seen. The Government site would also be out of the way for travellers! and others visiting th,e : town "and the usefulness of the institutiDn would thus be detracted from. He moved as an .amendment "That the site offered by Mr. Robertson be accepted." 'Mr. Sinclair"seconded. Mr. J. T. Ritchie said that if they built upon the Government site, the title would be in the name of the Superintendent, so that they would be prevented from borrowing if they wished to erect a larger building. . ' t . Mf . Stewart ; said that then they could purchase the adjoining section at the.upset price, and he would be glad to supply the funds. (Applause.) Mr. John M'Neil paid that all such reI serves were Crown granted to the Superintendent, hut if it was desired that the title should be iii tbe name of the Committee there would be no difficulty in passing an ordinance at next meeting of the Provincial Council to effect this; As to the title to the ground offered by Mr. , Robertson, he bad to mention that Mr. Walter Taylor, solicitor, had informed him that he would be happy to execute the transference free of charge. — (Applause.) Mr. Barty pointed out that the ground offered by Mr. J. Robertson was only 33 feet wide which was insufficient. Besides; large buildings might be erected on both sides, which would exclude all light from the Athenaeum. After some further diseu*sido, a vote was taken when there .voted for the amendment, 27, and for the motion 34. The motion (for tbe Government site) was therefore declared carried. The meeting then proceeded to elect a Committee of Management, when the interna Committee were re-elected, with the addition.of Messrs. Ritchie, M'dwen arid j Macdonald. The Interim Committee were I Mes«rs. A. C. Campbell, J. Robertson, ! Sanderson, R." Cramond, the Rev. J. M'Ara, A. Stewart, Renner^ R. Grigor, J. M'Neil, and A ; Grigor. The Hon. Major Richardson was elected , President; J. T. Ritchie^ Vice-President; A. Grigor, Secretary, and Mr. M'Owen, Treasurer. ' The amount of life members' subscription; as also the selection of the plans, was left to the decision of the Committee. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.