CORN EXCHANGE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2136, 29 December 1880, Page 3

CORN EXCHANGE.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to the above was held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday^ Mr Bruce, chairman of the Corn Exohargo, occupied the chair. He said that they were called togother that day to receive the annual statement of accounts for the year which was about to expire. He regretted to have to state that there had been a considerable falling off in the support on which they confidently relied to carry on the institution. He referred to the difficulty which had been experienced in collecting the subscriptions. There was little doubt but that this is attributable solely to the extremely, and he might say exceptionally depressed condition of the country at large. This state of things, he was glad to say, was gradually becoming better with the prospect of a good harvest, and he trusted, with fairly remunerative prices, they would, to a very great extent, master the worst of their difficulties. He would now ask the secretary to read, the minutes of the last annual meeting. The Chairman then read the report and statement as follows : The statement of accounts to be laid before you is as follows, showing the present position of the Exchange : £ b. a. Eent 100 0 0 Sundry expenses, viz., papers, advertising, stationery, coals, wood, office cleaning, stamps, tradelist, &c 41 0 0 Secretary's salary ... ... ... ISO 0 0 Total ... 294 0 0 Against this we have as a credit : By cash received from subscriptions 196 13 0 Entry fees and commissions on sales 95 14 9 292 7 9 This leaves a deficiency, of ■' JBI 12b 3d, but since this was made up this has been reduced to lis 3d. In comparing the figures of last year's accounts with the present, I find that in the snbscription account there is- a defioiency of £63 13s, in the entry fees and commissions on sales .£32 5b 3d, making a total deficiency of .£95 18s 3d in the income for the present year. Last year's statement of accounts showed a deficiency of £ll 4s, but against this £3 3s was collected for subscriptions for 1879; also about £3 commission on sales which were due, but had not been collected at the time the accounts were submitted to yon, leaving a deficiency of £5 for lust year, which has been carried on into this.

I now wish to call your attention to the fact that whereas last year we paid a rent of J 2200, this year we are in a position to pay only .£IOO. Having been informed: by the secretary that each was the case, myself and fellow committeemen had an interview with Mr Matson, prior to his departure for Australia, to mike this known to him, for although he did state at our last annual meeting that "so anxious was he that the Corn Exchange should not be allowed to collapse, that rather than that should happen he would almost • give the association the rooms rent free," still we felt that he might not be prepared for so serious a deficiency. Mr Matson however did (in the same generous spirit which has characterised his dealings with us) repeat substantially what he told us last year, and has taken what we are enabled to give him, and that sooner than it Bhould be abandoned, he would make still further concessions.

Having now, gentlemen, laid the accounts before you, and placed you in possession of the fact that our landlord is assisting you by all the means in his power to establish the Corn Exchange, it is for you to determine "whether you will abandon the project, or make another effort to keep it afloat. This is now the third year ef its existence, and although many of the farmers have showed a supinenesa as to the success or otherwise of this institution, there are many who aro most desirous that it should become permanently established. Every year which 13 added to its life tends to placing it on a better and surer footing, and, as I before mentioned, with the prospect of better times to come it is reasonable to predict that the difficulty of collecting subscriptions will not be so great. lam unwilling to occupy your time unnecessarily, but before concluding I merely wish to point out that apart from other contingent advantages which you may derive from the existence of a Corn Exchange, the fact of having a clnb room open all ' lawful days of the week, where you can see the daily papers, write a letter or transact any business which you may have, is well worth the -£l Is a year, which is all that is asked. I will not further intrude on your time at present, and I will be happy to have lie views of any of the gentlemen present on the Bubject. The Chairman said that Mr Matson had stated that if the Corn Exchange could not give him rent for the rooms they must have, them for nothing. Mr Mathias said it did not seem very oncouraging to the promoters of the Corn Ex> change to see so few present. Mr Peryman thought that She day wae.an inconvenient, cue, as very f)w were in town.

Mr Q-ardenar moved—" That the meeting be adjourned to some more convenient day."' The Chairman explained-that it was.necessary to call the meeting before the end af the year. Mr Q-aidener amendad his resolution as follows :—" That the raport and accounts be received, and that an adjourned meeting be called to- consider the position of ths-Corn Exchange, and the appointmant of a. secretary, for next Saturday week." Mr Mcßoath seconded tha motion, which was carried.

Mi?- Peryman moved—" That tho term of office of the secretary expire on December 313 b, and that the services of the present secretary be retained weekly from Ist January tmtil the arrangements are complete." Mr Hendorson seconded the motion, which was carried.

'Messrs W. T. C. Mills and E. Banls ■were appointed as auditors of the accounts. On the motion of Mr Moßeath, it was resolved—"To send a ciroular to each member, asking him to attend the adjourned maeting, and if not, whether he would allow his name to be enrolled for another year." Mr Overton seconded the motion, which wca carried. Mr Woodman moved—" That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr John Matson for his. liberality in dealing with the Exchange." Mr Howiand seconded, the motion, which was carried amid acclamation, and the pr<ji oeedjngs terminated.