CROMWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 127, 16 April 1872, Page 5

CROMWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY.

—o A meeting of the Committee of tins institution was held in the reading-room on Thursday evening, 11th inst., attended hy Messrs Taylor (in the chair), M'KeDar, Baird, Colclough, Marsh, Jolly, Matthews, and Ballard (lion, secretary). Minutes of former meeting were read and confirmed. A report by the librarian as to the condition of the library books was received and adopted. The following letter from the librarian, Mr George Jenour, was read : " To the Committee of the Cromwell Public! Library : | "Gentlemen, —It is with a feeling of regret i that I am compelled to believe the right and proper cour.se, (and therefore the only one,) for i me to take is to resign into your hands the ap- ! pointment of Librarian you did me the honour ; to confer upon me ; indeed, I had serious i thoughts of doing so some time since, and 1 wish you to believe that the only reason 1 did not was my very great desire not to be thought ungracious, or ungrateful. For I assure you that whatever faults 1 may possess, ingratitude is no:. one of thorn. 1 have the utmost detestation of | it, and believe it to be the very worst of dis- i qualifications a man can inherit ; and therefore feeling sure tint when you appointed me to the office, it was done with the good intent of thinking to benefit me. I don't care one jot, or give one moment's thought, to the pecuniary amount accruing from it ; all I care to know is that the intent was good, and therefore ought to be, and was, highly .prized by me. But it would be very wrong of me, if 1 know, by mv remaining in office, that it would in the smallest degree militate the well-conducting and prosperity of such an excellent institution ; ami as my conduct has •not been such as to meet the views of some of the gentlemm connected with it, and they having taken a great dislike to me, my only alternative i.s to remove any cause which may interfere with the pleasant and agreeable meetings, > which will conduce so much to its success, when my successor shall be app tinted, " I am not aware how [ have given offence, but I have reason to think that complaint has been made that I would not act as laundress, and that the reading-room was not always punctually opened at 10 a.m., and that the papers have been found at mv oTice after that time, and lastly, but not least, 1. have been guilty of the heinous crime of allowing some ladies (not subscribers) to read some bonis ; all of which I must plead guilty to, and no doubt I shall horrify those iniraaculite gentlemen, who think it so wrong to oblige a lady, when 1 say that 1. should be unable to resist the temptation of letting them have a book, it they said, ;i s they always fid, in th sir very pro'.ty way, that they ' should so like to read it.' "This, Gentlemen, is 'the very bead and front of my oifeu bug, no m ire' ; and therefore ■ you will perceive that, as 1 have dared to say that I shall most likely offend again, as far as the last item of crime is concerned, i am not lit to be vour librarian ; but wi.l, if you should ' think fit, hold the office, and attend to its duties, • until your next meeting-night, which will end ! the half-year, and no doubt by that time a gen--1 j tie man will be introduced more congenial to ! ! their feelings. 1 have the honour to be, " Gentlemen, "Your very obedient servant, "Ge;>. Jenour." On the motion of Mr Marsh, seconded by Mr [ MacKellar, Mr Jenour's resignation was ae- > cepted. , A small account for kerosene from Mr W. > Shanly was passed for payment ; also, an account ; from Mr If. Wise, of Dun din. for six months' 3 subscription to the Melbourne Leader. The Secretary was instructed to order the Lender d ; rect from the publishing office. It was resolved to advertise for applications , for the office of librarian. ? Mr MacKellar gave notice of motion for rexl -1 meeting to the effect th ,t it is desirable for tin , Library Committee to apply to the Atbeineun a I Hall Committee for the loan of a portion of tin t funds in their hands, and to devote say £SO oi 1 £6O to the purchase of new books. The Chairman directed attention to thedesira - bility of resuscitating the Popular Entertain r j incuts without delay. u ! It w r as resolved, after discussion, to instruc - I the Secretary to convene a committee meeting fo :- ' Wednesday (to-morrow) evening with the ohjec I of re-organising the entertainments. Mr MacKellar gave notice to move at nex " | meeting, that apprentices be allowed the privi i, le.ges of membership on payment of half th 1 usual subseript'on. i, The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman eon i- eluded tue proceedings.