CROMWELL ATHENÆUM.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 211, 25 November 1873, Page 6

CROMWELL ATHENÆUM.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS. On the evening of Tuesday last the annual meeting of subscribers to the Athenaeum took placeintheTown-hall. All the members of the Athenamm Committee for the past year and a considerable number of subscribers were present. Mr J. A. Preshaw, the president of the retiring committee, was in the chair. The business of the meeting was to receive the report and resignation of the retiring committee, and to elect a new committee for the ensuing year. The Secretary, Mr Jolly, read the annual report, from which we extract the leading portions:— "Gentlemen,—The duty devolves upon your committee to lay before you the fifth annual report of the Cromwell Public Library. Before resigning the trust they have heM for the past year, your committee would biiefly review the past, present, and future of the institution. " Financially, your committee have somewhat improved their position. At their accession to office, tbey found ;i balance to their credit of the sum of £2 9s. 5d., whereas the balance-sheet now shews a credit balance of £22 ss. 3d. At the same time, they would remind the subscribers that they hand over the trust clear of all liabilities, besides having secured a continuation of the supply of Home papers and periodicals, and of several colonial ones, for the ensuing year. They would further remark that annual subscriptions to the amount of £3l are due from members, and may be collected within a reasonable time. It was the desire of your committee to have added many valuable works from eminent authors to the present collection of books. But after carefully perusing the catalogue furnished by the Education Board, your committee were only justified in marking off books to the value of £4O, and of these only £l7 10s. worth were sent by the Education Board, — many of these not up to the standard your com*

mittee would have wished. However, there is no doubt, when the next consignment arrives from England, our successors will be able to make amends by adding to the present collection many valuable works from both ancient and modern authors. "Up to the present date the value of the Library properties is estimated at £2BO. The number of annual subscribers is fifty-six, and of half-yearly, six. Although these numbers will compare favourably with former years, yet your committee might reasonably have expected a greater amount of support from the public of such an important district ; and they earnestly hope that the advent of 1874 will infuse new life into the institution. " After our accession to office, it was resolved to change the name from the Cromwell Public Library to the more appropriate name of the Cromwell Athenaeum. As you are aware, Beveral gentlemen who have taken an interest in the success of the Library, inaugurated a series of Winter Evening popular entertainments, carried out under the auspices of the Library Committee, the funds to be devoted towards the building of an Athenamm hall and reading-room. In November last, the trust was formally handed over to your committee, the netfe amount of monies from these entertainments having reached tho handsome sum of £lB7. We cannot pass from this part of our report without adverting to the valuable assistance afforded to us in raising the handsome amount above named for'this institution, by those lady and gentlemen amateurs who gave the various entertainments, and we feel they are entitled to our thanks. " So far, the thanks of the subscribers are due to the Town Council for their courtesy in allowing the ÜBe of the Town-hall for a temporary Athenaeum." The report then goes on to speak of the various efforts made to secure a site for the Athenssum, and urges the incoming committee to go on with the work with the £lB7 above-mentioned, and while the vote of £l5O by the Provincial Council is still available. " Having such an object in view, your committee made application to the Government for a grant of land as an endowment, having previously obtained the consent of Mr Loughnan on behalf of the Crown tenants, who very generously notified to the Government their willingness to have the right to the land on the lower flat cancelled in favour of the Athenseum Committee. It now only remains for our successors to complete the necessary conditions with the Government, in order to be put in the position of receiving a yearly rental on the property mentioned. " In conclusion, we would strongly urge upon the subscribers to elect a committee of gentlemen who will energetically carry out the important scheme initiated by your now retiring committee. And in the event of a public hall being built during the next term of office, we would suggest to our successors the setting apart of a room for the collection of mineral and geological specimens. It is certain that throughout the multitudinous workings of the district, many valuable specimens are unearthed, retained for a time by the finder, but afterwards thrown aside ; whereas if the committee had a room set apart for the exhibition of such specimens, there is no telling what grand results might be achieved for the benefit of the district. By adopting such a course, it might possibly be the means of developing and bringing to light the great mineral wealth of our district, which up to the present can only boast of its gold mines. " With these remarks, we beg to tender you our resignation, and we can assure you, gentlemen, whether or not we have the honour again to sit in committee, we will ever faithfully watch over the interests of what, we trust, will one day be the richest Athenzeum and most complete Library on the Otago gold-fields."

Balance in Bank, £22 ss. 31. Total receipts accruing from Popular Entertertainments, £lB7. On the motion of Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Johnson, the report was received and adopted. A unanimous vote of thanks was then accorded to the retiring committee. The election was then proceeded with, and the following gentlemen were appointed to act as a committee for the ensuing year. (The numbers after the names denote the number of votes for each person) :—J. A. Preshaw 18, D. MacKellar 18, D. A. Jolly 18, J. Taylor 16, C. Colclough 15, B. R. Baird 14, C. F. Johnson 14, G. M. Starkey 12, J Marsh 12, J. Dawkim 10, and W. Taylor 9. Messrs Ballard and Jenour were appointed to act as Auditors. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. At the close of the public meeting the newly appointed committee met, and appointed Messrs Preshaw, MacKellar, and Jolly, to the offices respectively of President, j Vice-President, and Secretary.

The summary balance-sheet is as follows :— Dr. £ s. d. To Balance in November 1872 2 9 5 Total amount subscriptions Sale of paper Government subsidy ... 52 17 ... 1 1 ... 17 1 6 6 9 73 10 2 Cr. £ s. d. By papers and periodicals ... Sundries .. ... IS 6 ... 5 16 8 6 Librarian's salary ... ... 10 0 0 Government books ... 17 1 9 Balance in Bank ... 22 5 3 73 10 2