KAIAPOI INSTITUTE.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 25, 29 June 1874, Page 3

KAIAPOI INSTITUTE.

The monthly meeting of the committee was held on Friday evening last. Eight members were present. Mr Bean was chairman pro tern. Tenders for painting the institute, making additional bookcases, and supply of kerosene were accepted. Accounts amounting to £2l 14s 8d were passed for payment. After passing some other business the committee adjourned. The annual meeting of members was held at 8 p.m. Twenty-six persons were present. The Mayor, Mr B. GL Kerr, was voted to the chair. A letter was read from Mr J. Beswick, regretting that he was not able to attend owing to illness. The hon secretary (Mr J. Lowthian Wilson) read the following report of the retiring committee. "In presenting the ninth annual report, your committee have to report steady progress in all departments of the institute. Considerable improvements have been carried out during the year, the hall increased in size, the former reading room comfortably furnished as a smokingj room, and the library materially added to. The number of members has increased to 110 since last report, and the institution becomes more popular every day. " The reading rooms have been open during the day time, as well as in the evening. Several additional newspapers and magazines have been subscribed for ; the list now includes twenty papers and eight of the leading monthly periodicals. , As the latter is a popular class of literature, especially for circulation, the committee are prepared to receive suggestions and order more of it. Chess, which is a favorite game with the majority of the members, has been encouraged in every way. " The bookcases contain two thousand five hundred volumes inclnsive of the valuable library of reference, together with all the Acts of the General Assembly and Ordinances of the Provincial Council. An order of £SO worth of books is expected from London on the arrival of which new printed catalogues of the library will be issued. Several presents of books have been made, which have been duly acknowledged. During the past three years not a single volume has been lost, therefore the committee did not call in the books for stocktaking, which the rules allow them to do for one week in each year.

"The buildings, furniture, and books are partially insured, viz : —for £SOO. Tenders have been accepted for additional bookcases and painting the Institute. ,The whole of the property is in good repair. " The treasurer's statement is a satisfactory one, and it will be seen that the ordinary receipts have more than met the ordinary expenditure, as the receipts from subF^rip-

tions and rent of the hall arc £125 13s 9d, the expenditure for newspapers, salaries, fire, lighting, insurance, and petty cash is £Bl 10s 3d." In the unavoidable absence of the treasurer, Mr Ellis, the secretary read the following statement of accounts for year ending June 26th, 1874 :- Receipts: Balance in hand, 1873, £4 9s 9d ; rent of hall, £44 2s 6d ; sale of books, £5 12s 6d ; grant from Provincial Government, £250 ; members' subscriptions, £Bl lis 3d ; proceeds of concert, £l2 0s 6d ; total, £397 17s. Expenditure :. Librarian's salary, £3O; books, periodicals, and newspapers, £9l 5s 2d ; kerosene and candles, £l2 17s lOd ; coal, £4 17s Gd ; insurance on building, books, and furniture, £6 17s Gd ; secretary petty cash. £7 18s 5d ; honorarium to librarian, £5 ; furnishing smoking room, £22 Is; repairs and frosting windows, £3 10s; tuning piano, 15s ; Mr W. Weston, building hall and extras, £182; total, £367 2s 5d ; balance in hand, £3O 14s 7d. The outstanding assets were £lO ; liabilities, £211.4s Bd. In reoly to Mr E. llcvell, the secretary stated the £SO worth of books expected were already paid for. Members having expressed themselves thoroughly satisfied with the report and balance sheet.

Mr Hassell moved, Mr Bean seconded—- " That the report be adopted." Carried. Mr Dawson moved, Mr Penchin seconded —"That the statement of , accounts be adopted." Carried. A letter was read from Mr R. Macfarlane, stating he was sorry another engagement prevented him from attending the meeting, as he understood a proposal was to be made to open the reading rooms on Sunday afternoons, which he would heartily support, as it would considerably extend the usefulness of the institute to many who could not avail themselves of its privilege during the week. If proxies were allowed, he asked the chairman to vote for him.

It was pointed out that the writer of the foregoing letter was not a member.

The chairman said the next business was the election of officers. The list of those nominated had been posted in the room as provided by the rules and the meeting would now proceed with the election. Mr J. Lowthian Wilson said he had great pleasure in proposing the re-election of Mr Joseph Beswick as president. That gentleman had taken a very deep interest in the affairs of the institute. It might be that he was not always preseut at their committee meetings, yet he had the interests of the institution at heart. It was mainly with his assistance that it was established, and ref ering to a return which he (Mr .Wilson) had the curiosity to make that day from the treasurer's papers, it would be seen that Mr Beswick had assisted them to a very great extent, as it was mainly [through his influence that the grants at various times from the Government, amounting to £550, had been obtained. The total amount expended since the question of forming an institute was mooted in 1864 was £I6OO. The members had paid by subscription £7OO, the amounts from entertainments and lectures reached £350, and the Government at divers times had granted £550. The expenditure for the period of nine years for managing expenses in the way of salaries, insurance, fuel, lighting, petty cash, furniture,Jand book-cases was £470; for books, papers, and periodicals, £4OO ; and for building £7OO. Besides this they had a piano which cost £44. He had only to add that Mr Beswick would accept the presidency if it was the wish of the subscribers, but if they desired to elect any one else he had authorised his name to be withdrawn. Mr Goldthorpe seconded the nomination, which was put aud carried unanimously. Mr Wilson proposed, Mr Pinching seconded, " That Mr William Hassall be elected treasurer." Carried.. Mr Smith moyed, Mr T. Winterbourne seconded, " That Mr B. S. Bean be re-elected librarian." Carried. Mr Pinching moved, Mr Johnston seconded, "That Mr Wilson be re-elected secretary," Carried. Mr Wilson, in thanking the members, said he felt proud to be secretary to such a prosperous institution. A ballot was then taken for the election of twenty-one members of committee from the thirty-four nominated, and resulted in the election of Messrs Dawson, Johnston, Kerr, Pinching, Smith, Balch, Goldthorpe, Dr Dudley, Funston, Evans, Marsden, File, Green, T. Wilson, E. Revell, McKenna, H. Gulliver, C. Young, Sansom, E. Feldwick, and Hewlings. A vote of thanks to the officers of last year, and a special vote to the late treasurer, were carried. Mr Balch gave notice that he would move at the qnartcrly meeting—" That any officer or member of committee being absent from three consecutive committee meetings, unless reasonable excuse be given, lose his seat." Mr Pinching said he had been asked to introduce the subject, and move—" That the institute be open on Sundays from 2 till 5 p.m." He proposed this resolution with great pleasure, as there were many like himself who would avail themselves of the opportunity to have a quiet read. It would be a deal better for many to come there than loaf about the bridge. Mr H. Gulliver said he had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. Mr Wilson thought members would be as much taken by surprise as he was with the motion, and recommended notice should be given for the quarterly meeting. After some discussion, the chairman ruled the motion could be put. Mr Wilson moved, Mr Bean seconded, an amendment, that notice be given of the motion, to be considered at the next quarterly meeting. Mr Johnston pointed out that it appeared as if the movers wanted to carry the resolution by strategy. He thought it would only be fair to allow all the members an opportunity of having a voice in the matter. Messrs Pinching and Smith drew attention that in three months the winter would be over, and the advantage of opening the institute would thus be lost in a measure. The amendment was put and lost, nine voting for and eleven against it. The Chairman said it would be competent to present a requisition to the secretary to call a special general meeting in seven days to discuss the question. It did seem to him that it would be better to give all the members a chance of considering the question. Mr Hassall moved, Mr Bean seconded, " That a special general meeting be called for Friday evening next to consider the question." This \va3 carried, only two dissenting. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meeting terminated.

THE CENSUS OF 1874. From a return laid on the table <»f Hie Provincial Council, wecorapile the foilt.v ing particulars of the population of the various road districts in the proviuce, together with the population of Ihe municipalities of Christchurch, Lyttclton, Timaru, and Kaiapoi:—

— m a "58 la a V O H Waipara 171 101 272 Kowai 970 782 1752 Ashley 291 231 522 Gust ... 343 291 634 West ,'Eyreton 167 93 260 Oxford 678 418 996 Mandcville and Rangiora 1541 1368 2909 Eyreton 735 612 1347 Avon 2027 1941 3968 Riccarton 860 813 1673 Tomplcton 356 300 656 Ileathcote 2193 2117 4310 Sprcydon 1654 1540 3194 Halswell 173 165 338 Lincoln 660 550 1210 Springs .... ... -... 627 509 1136 Port Vigtoria ... ! ... 126 126 252 Port Levy 99 74 173 L'igeon Bay 198 132 •330 O'Kain's Bay 330 243. 573 Akaroa and Wainui 767 711 1478 Little River 286 216 502 Courtney 768 549 1317 Ellesmcre 1575 1120 2745 Upper Waimakariri 117 28 145 Malvern 185 134 319 Malvern, East 126 77 203 Malvern, South 29 26 55 Rakaia 260 202 462 Lake Coleridge 56 33 89 Mount Somers 248 136 384 Ashburton 808 368 1176 Geraldine 625 463 1088 Levels 1129 908 2037 Mount Peel 120 76 196 Temuka... 846 613 1459 Waimate... 930 649 1479 Mount Cook 295 85 380 Christchurch town 5339 4949 10,288 Kaiapoitown 501 501 1002 Timaru town 1097 914 2011 Lyttelton town 1587 1323 2910