THE DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

Evening Star, Issue 4028, 25 January 1876, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

The annual meeting of mem’ ers of the Dunedin Athenoeum and Mechanics’ Institute was he d last evening, Mr W. N. Blair (vice-presi-dent) in the ch ir. There was a large attendance of subscribers.

Copies of the balance-sheet for the year ending ecember 31, 1 875, were distributed. It showed that the cash receipts for the year had b en L 9 6 11s fo. subscriptions, L 294 5s lOd rent, L4O deposits on books, and Ll tig catalogues ; which with L 43 4s 6d, balance brought forward from the previous year, made a total of L 1,335 7s 4d. The expenditure included: Salaries, L3SS 3s 8d; cash remitted to London agent, L 45 0; newspapers, books, and binding m the Colony, L 163 6s; deposits refunded, . 5 insurance, gas, coal, printing, and sundnes, ( 1-251 8s Bd, leaving a cash balance in hand of L 64 9s. The statement of assets and haoilities showed liabilities estimated r "bile the assets were as follows:- Cash in hand, L 64 9s: land and buildings in Octagon, L5,0U0 Os Od; book account, 31st December, 187-1, L 2.252; books since added, L4BI (is 4d; estimated balance In hands of London agent, L29i); subscrii tlons in arrear, L 33 : rents iu orrear. Li 7 16s; total, LB.IGO Is 4d. The Ch \irm >n remarked that there had been a slight falling off in the subscriptions in comparison with the previous year, but this was due to the fact of a large number of persons having paid a quarterly subscription in order to tf U i j c i emse ves v °tc at a herce discussion held by the members some time ago, and these persons had not continued to be subscribers. Mr E. J. D nms ton read the report, which showed that the number of subscribers was now I, showing a decrease of 2 7 since the previous year, accountable for as mentioned above. The subscriptions amounted to L9sii 11s, a decrease of L 74 ss. The circulation of books "‘ff 40,464, against 40,622; 1,004 books were added to the library. The want of space being increasingly obvious, the Committee suggested that the question of utilising the large vacant space at the rear of the building be considered, bmee Mr Wilding’s resignation, Mr Denniston had acted as honorary secretary. Mr D. R. ay had acted as librarian since the beginning of this year, the ommittee having deemed it necessary to require the resignation of the librarian. In reply to an advertisement by the Committee, 40 applications for the office have been received. The vacancy having occurred so near the conclusion of their tenure of office, the Committee have thought it advisable to remit a question of so much importance to the Institute to the incoming Committee. Mr Parsons, the London agent had obtained from her Majesty’s Commissioners of Patents 107 volumes of Patent Office Reports and other documents, a very valuable donation to the institution. Donations of books, c. had also been received from Captain F W Hutton, and Mean; V.Pyke, G. B. Horton’, J. Logan, and W. W. Holmes. The committee held fafteen meetings during their term of omce, at "which \ he attendance of members was as follows ; MrLubecki, 6 ; Mr Logan. 15; Mr Hay 14; Mr Blai ,14; Mr Caldwell, 12 Mr Stanford, 9; Mr Stout, 9; Mr Denniston 9; Mr Sale, , ; Mr Pish, 6; Mr Wilding, 6; Mr Stewart, n; Mr Cargill, •>. Dr Stuart, in moving the adop'ion of the report, said he could not endorse all the committee had done, bu - the Athenaa .m was admirably managed, and was a credit to the City. Mr Dick seconded the motion. Mr Nathan asked if the Committee had any plan prepared by which the accommodation of the building could be increased. Mr J. B. Park moved that it be an instruction to the incoming committee to consider Mr Black s application favorably. Dr Bakewell suggested that some standard french and German writers should be added to the shelves, though he did not like to see such objectionable infidel works as Renan’s Life of Jesus there.

Mr Stout thought there would be many what gentlemen called infidel works among them. The matter of the librarian it would be better to leave to the new committee.—(Hear, hear.) The repot was hen a iopte l and he e ection of office s proceeded with, with the following results vice-presi -ent, the Rev. R. L Stanford ; treasurer, Mr Logan; secretary, Mr Kobert Dick; auditor, Mr HalliwelL The polling for nine committeemen was as follows • —Messrs Lubecki, 123 ; Stout, 120 ; Blair, 114: Professor M'Gregor, 72 ; Ur Stuart, 69 ; D R. Hay, 68 ; Denniston, 66 ; Caldwell, 66 ; Fish, 65. The foregoing were declared duly elected. The remainder of the polling was as follows : Mr F, Chapman, 60 ; Drßoseby, 60; Professor Sale, ~6 Messrs Wales, 54; W. D. Stewart, 44 ; M‘Arthur, 41; A. M‘Leod, 23 ;Dr Brown, 2f; J. M‘Gregor, i 3 ; M'Kerrow, 15; A. J. Bums, 10 ; and E. B. Cargill, 10. After some discussion the following motion, by Mr Mackay, was agreed to : “ That this meeting authorise the new Committee to procure suitable plans capable of meeting the increased accommodation necessary for the Institution, and that when such suitable plans are fixed upon they be submitted to a special meeting of members to be called to cons der the best means of erecting the building ” The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to Mr W. N. Blair, the retiring v ce-president.