THE ATHENÆUM ENDOWMENT.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 181, 29 April 1873, Page 5

THE ATHENÆUM ENDOWMENT.

A special meeting of members of the Cromwe'.l Athenraum was hold in the Library on Tu jsday evening, with the object of taking steps to provide for the management of the block of land ceded by the Provincial Government (witli the consent of Mr Loughnan as agent for the crown tenants) as a perpetual endowment to the institution. Mr Preshaw, president of committee, occupied the chair. He explained that as the Provincial Council would shortly be in session, and as the Government had undertaken to introduce a bid vesting the endowment in trustees, it was n ceisary to recommend and tia.ismit the nanus of such persons as might be considered most suitable for th ollice. In the course of a discussion on the subject, it was pointed out that the persons who might be appointed trustees could, if so inclined, act independently of the Athenasum Committee, and exercise their powers of control over the endowment in a way that might prove detrimental to the welfare of the institution. Such a contingency, it was said, ws>3 ■mite possible ; and for that reason it wag suggested that means should be adopted to obtain for the Atheme'im Committee the status and po.vers of a corporate body, which would enable them to retain the management of the ei dowment in their own hands. It was then moved by Mr MacKellar—Thut the Secretary be instructed to prepare and forward to the Government a memorial askii g that a bill may be prepared "to incorporate theCroniwell Athenreum, in orderthat thereby its usefulness in the diffusion of knowledge and learning in Cromwell and its neighbourhood may be promoted and extended, and any endowments in land, moneys, or other grants whatsoever which have been or may hereafter be made to the institution, may be duly administered." The motion was duly seconded, and was unanimously adopted. Mr MacKellar further proposed—That the Seci-etary remind the Government of their promise to introduce an Athenreum Reserves Management Bill at the ensuing session of Council ; and at the same time to mention that the boundaries of endowment reserve would be furnished on completion of survey. The motion was seconded and agreed to. A sub-committee was appointed to visit and examine the Lower Flat in company with the District Surveyor, with the view of fixing boundaries, pointing out road lines required, and estimating the relative rentable value of the different qualities of land comprised within the limits of the block.