CROMWELL ATHENEÆUM.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 215, 23 December 1873, Page 6

CROMWELL ATHENEÆUM.

~ ♦ A special meeting of the Athenseum Committee was held on Friday evening, to consider the offer made by Mr B. E. Baird to advance the sum of £450 for four years at ten per cent, per annum, for the purpose of building an Athenceum-hall. All the members of the Committee, with the exception of Mr Baird, were present. Before introducing the special business of the evening, the President informed the Committee that the deputation appointed by them at last meeting had waited upon Messrs Turnbull and Bastings in reference to several matters which affected the interests of the Athenaeum; and amongst other things, as bearing upon the present business in hand, he stated that the sum of £l5O, the subsidy voted by the Government, was available for building purposes the moment the Committee chose to apply for it. The amount of funds in the Bank to the credit of the building being £lB7, and the proposed offered loan being £450, the Committee in discussing the business could fairly assume that they could command £BOO. After some discussion it was resolved : “ That this meeting considers that the time has now arrived, when the work of building an Athenaeum-hall should be proceeded with”; and that plans and specifications for such building be procured, the estimated cost being not less than £800.” The question of site was then discussed at great length. The first proposition on the subject was, “ That the block known as sections 3, part of 4, 38, and 39, of block HI., be chosen as a suitable site for the erection of an Athenaeum-hall.” An amendment was then proposed, “ that the section on which the Town-hall at present stands be considered a more suitable site on which to erect the Athemeura-hall, provided, on examination, that the laird be considered safe for the erection of a stone building.” On being put to the meeting the original proposition was carried. The offer of Mr Baird was then considered, to lend £450 for the period of four years at 10 per cent., whereupon Mr Marsh, on behalf of Mr J. Cassels, offered to advance the sum of £590 for the same period at 9 per cent, it was agreed to give the President and Secretary full power to arrange the matter with either of the gentlemen making the offer. The other business consisted of routine matters ; the procuring of a seal, plans and specifications for the building, &c.