THE ATHENAEUM AND CHEAP GAS.

Evening Star, Issue 4043, 10 February 1876, Page 2

THE ATHENAEUM AND CHEAP GAS.

This mornm? Cr. Isaac introduced to the Mayor at the City Council Chambers a deputation comprising the Rev. R. L. Stanford, vicepresident of the Athenaeum; Mr Logan, treasurer; Messrs Stout and Lubecki, members of committee : and Messrs J. B. Bradshaw, Sise, E. C. Strode, and Doughty, as representing the citizens. Mr feTANFOBD said the object of the deputy tion was to, get the City Council to ba good enough to consider the advantages offered to the public by the Dunedin Athenaeum, with a . view to lending dt assistance to enable if better to fulfil its mission: and expend its usualness. This aid was particularly required by th e Institut' on in tbe direction of its outlay for gas; and as th* gasworks were now in the charge of the Corporation the deputation would ask the Council to be good enough to' allow the Athenaeum’s gas hilt to be unpaid—-at all events to make some allowac ce, if not to wipe, off the whole amount He would hand in a petition to that effect signed by 300 bond fide ratepayers of the City, and he felt sure that the granting of the request would meet the views of a large majority of the genet al body of ratepayers. The bill for the year amounted to 1.90, "a sum which would go a long way in providing heri books fur the Institution, whose benefits would be thereby much increased, and At the same time the ratepayers and the public genera ly would obtain additional advantages. The memorial read as follows; That the Dunedin Athensenm and Mechanics' Institute is a body incorporated by an Ordinance of the Provincial Council of Otago, and was established (or the benefit of the citizens of Dunedin, having its membership thrown open to all, without any qualification or any condition except the payment of an annual subscription, so low that none need be debarred from enjoying the advantages to he derived from the institution.

That your Corporation will be exercising the trusts vested in you for the benefit of the inhabitants of the City of Dunedin by encouraging the Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute in every possible manner. That by " The Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute Ordinance, 1870," by which the institute was incorporated, it is provided that if the Corpora, tion be dissolved, the whole of the property, real and personal, belonging to the said Corporation shall be vested in the .Mayor and Municipal Council of the City of Dunedin, to be held for the use of the public, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the said Council in that behalf. , That the works supplying the Oily of Dunedin with gas are now the property of the City in' the hands of your Corporation. That the amount paid' by the said Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics', Institute for gas during the year ending 81st De-| cember, 1875, amounted to the sum of L9B 3s Bd, and it will materially assist the institute to hare this charge removed. Your petitioners therefore' humbly pray that your Corporation will be pleased to supply the said institute with gas free of charge.

His Worship thought the deputation had certainly taken time by the forelock, for although the Corporation were in possession of the gasworks the anangements for Taking them over were not yet completed, and the Corporation had not yet i eceived LI 00 iu lates. The object of the deputation was, he took it, for him to present the petition, to the City Council, but he might say that individually he could not hold out the BUghtest hope that the request would be granted; for as soon as that were doue, timilar applications would come in right and left. from clubs, school?, and chuvches which ; were, all useful institutions. He thought, therefore, that if a grant were made in this case it would turn out, as a financial question, to be a mistake. He would be candid with the deputation and state that this gaß question could not be a matter of bentimont with the Corporation. Although, the Athenaeum was a useful ins'itution it was not a public library; if it were eventually turned into such the Corpo atiirn might possibly go »ut of its way ana give it free gas and water.: He could not but think the request ot the deputation was premature. Mr Stout said he did not think the ratepavers would object to granting fres gaß to churches. The Athenseum, however, was not like the churches, which 'were Uot free to all: the Athenseum was free to all on the payment) of a small fee, and was not a sectarian institution of auy fcort. As to ech >ols, tbey did not requite gas, as there were no evening clashes; ana the Athenseum had actually met that want by granting accommodation for an evening B'ihool. If a public rate were levied the Instituti n might b» made a free one, but he doubted if the eitizeos would pay a rate of 2d or 3d in the pound for a free library.

HisWoBSHiP said Mr Stout ba'd.madeuse of a wroi gexpreision—the Athenaeum wak not " free to all," but on the contrary, open to bud scibers only. Mr Stout submitted that it was free on the paymeut of a small fee, whereas one could safe become a member of a church by the payment of any sum. Mr Stanfobd faid bis Worship's argument appeared to be that if the deputation's requ*t were granted many other demands would be made upon, the Corporation, but the Athensaum was really in an exceptional position, and came with a good claim in its hand. In of its nisht school, it was really an educational body. He thought no other body would follow suit, as anticipated by his Worship. • Hi? Worship Baid an Athenaeum might be started in each ward—then there would be four institutions requiring free gw Mr Stout thought it would be a good thing if there were four sueh institutions for the Corporation to grant fr-c gas to, for they wou'd do a vast amount, of good. Mr LußECrti said the objections urged by his Worship might be applied to the baths, which we™ nb+. "free to all;" r ani Vet were supported by the Corporation's funis.

His Wobship said tlurt appeared to forget that; they subsidised bjr the KhtpmUM '*B&sm* were charged; a'thhiigh'they £*d a halhwtilch was let for meetings, and the'kefctog ' ing wa« not charged to-them. ' f * \ •*" . Mr Stop siid the: Athenaeum paidtor part «f thekerbing. Andthenthe*nolet*opßrty really; vested in the Corporation. He .might say %\e eemmit'e'j intended enlarging the Ini titn' ion at a tost of L 2,006. ..," H b.Worship said thafr.he was, amember of the Atben&um and was aware of its usefulness, but he must at #e matter from a Corporationpt>lnt*«l Tie*?/ In that light he thought it would hj« difficult for the Council to sanction Hie request However, he was not the Corporation, and if on handing the petition to the Council the latter agreed to grmt it. he wou'd not oppose it Mr Logan aaid the property was worth - LB,fK)O, find was Beeured <o^e , Cf».'Thß committee were not interested in the rands in the slightestdegree. , -'■ ■ H ■ Worship said he was aware of that; but •hey had a charge for membership,„.and„the more subscriptionsthey bTjtaariwfthe less reason tber had to ask for freeg&B. _ Mr Logan sa d tbey would like to mskelhe institution free alto .ethtr. ' .<: j His Wobbhip said iwrbaps the General" Government would subsidise it. . This idea seemed to he entertained as visionary, and the deputation withdiew.