THE GREYMOUTH LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1584, 2 September 1873, Page 2

THE GREYMOUTH LITERARY INSTITUTE.

A public meeting, called by the Mayor, in reply to a requisition sent to him by a large number of the residents, was held in the large hall of Gilmer's Hotel last nieftt, "To consider the best means to be adopted for the re-establishment of the Literary Institute, and providing a public readingroom for the inhabitants." The attendance was not so large as might have been expected.

The Mayor stated the objects for which the meeting had been called.

Mr Woolcock/ said he had been called upon to take an active part in the discussion of this question, and had been asked to move the first resolution. The old institution was one which every person could visit and read their books and papers in comfort. But it was found that an increased income would be necessary to carry it on, or the Society weuld have to be wound up, and the latter course was resolved upon. At the meeting at which this decision was arrived at several gentlemen expressed an opinion that it was impossible to carry out any scheme for a Mechanics' or Literary Institution in Greymoutb. He was one who differed with that opinion, and it was owing to that he was called upon to take a prominent part in the present movement. He believed it was possible to establish a permanent and self-support-ing institution of the kind here. He moved — "That in the opinion of this meeting it ii advisable that steps be taken for the purpose of establishing a Literary Institute and Public Reading-room in Greymouth." He was not going to find fault with the managing party of the old institution. Reflections had been freely cast upon them about their exclusiveness and j other matters, but since the Society had been thrown open to the public he had joined it, and he was happy to say that he had always received from the older members every amount of courtesy, and everything else that any man could expect. The idea had certainly got abroad that there was a certain amount of exclusiveness in connection with the Society, and it was thought that an endeavor should now be made to establish one on a thoroughly publio Jbasis. They were all agreed that there should be a Public Library and Reading-room established accessible to all. As to the desirability of these there could be no two opinions, but the question then

arose as to the establishment and management of such an institution, and whether the people of Greymouth and the district were prepared to carry out this very desirable obiec 4 ;. This could not be obtained without unity of effort, and it was not for the public to expect that a few of their members were to provide them with all these comforts and conveniences without their co-operation. An old quotation was "By many straws united the elephant was bound," and so it would be with this effort, to which he was willing to contribute his straw. .

The Rev. G. T. N. Watkins seconded the motion pro forma. He thought that Mr Woolcock had done very well in speaking of the desirability and also of the practicability of such an institution being established, but it was well known thwe was at present in town such an institution, which only required hearty support on the part of the public to make it successful. He did not think it was necessary to establish another similar institution, as he knew of no radical defects in the laws of the present Society to render the establishment of another necessary.

The Mayor corroborated the statement that he had heard outside many complaints against the Society, and now was the opportunity for members to refute them.

Mr Holmes wished it to be stated what was the reason for the present institution not being a success. Was there any balance-sheet to show whether the expenses were too heavy, or whether the failure was for want of sufficient public support'? : Mr W. H. Revell, as President of the Society, said that the subscription hitherto had been L 2 per annum, but as the number of members had fallen off so much, the rent of the room was not covered by the subscriptions. The expenses of working the Society, and buying books and periodicals was Ll5O per; annum, and there were only 45 members. Some time ago an effort was made to induce the public to come forward and become subscribers. A very few came forward, but after awhile, as the books were read, the members fell off again. In order to keep the affair afloat, the members got up public entertainments, and did so successfully for the first year, but ultimately they found it was such a task to get ladies and gentlemen to render assistance that the Committee decided to give them up. In fact, latterly some of the members of the Society had resigned rather than run the risk of being placed upon a Committee to get up one of these concerts. With regard to the charge of exclusiveness, he would Bay that at first it was a private society, and there was some black-balling, but afterwards an atiempt was made to make it a public institution, and for that purpose a public meeting was held at Rilgour's Hotel. The Committee then appointed drew up rules, and the only thing required' of any member joining was that he should be nominated by a member of the Society,: so as to guarantee a certain amount of respectability. These rules had been in existence 'for nearly three years. The members were charged with exclusiveness, but the real fault lay with the public, who would not come forward and join the Society. They had now resolved to wind up, and to give to the public an opportunity of taking over for a very small sum the whole stock of books, 500 volumes, and two or three years periodicals, which would make a very good beginning for the new Society. ; Mr W. Hill thought that the old committee might have brought forward their balance-sheet or some statistics,' which would have been of great value to any committee about to be formed to bring a new institution into shape. It would be risky at present, without proper, figures, to commence an undertaking of this kind, which could not be successfully done, except on the most liberal prinf ciples, so as to place it within the reach of every member of the community. He asked if the County Government had hot granted subsidies, and whether there was any probability of these being continued ?

Mr Revell said the Society had received from the County Government LI 00 in two or three instalments. Promises had been made that these would be continued, but the County funds had been in such a state that nothing had been received for some time, and he saw no chance of getting any more. They had been -promised a track of land as an endowment. He did not think it necessary, to bring up the Committee's balancesheet to that meeting.

The Mayor said that every information would be given to any new Committee that might be appointed by the public. Mr Wooloock wished it to be understood that if the public now chose to start a new institution, they were not bound to buy the books of the present library which had been so handsomely offered to them.

The motion was then put and carried.

Mr W. Hill moved the second resolution — "That, with the of carrying but the foregoing resolution, a Provisional Committee be formed for the purpose of canvassing the town and district for subscriptions, and subscribing members, and reporting to a future meeling."

The -Rev. Mr Watkins^ seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Holmes moved the third resolution — " That the annual subscription be fixed at one guinea per year, payable yearly, half-yearly, or quarterly, in advance ; if quarterly, 5s 6d, which will entitle the subscriber to all the privileges of the Society."

Mr Hill seconded the motion, because he believed in the subscription being reduced as low as possible, ,which he was sure would be an element to its success. The Mayor, thought /that 30s per annum was the lowest possible amount at which a Society of this kinij could be successfully worked. That was 1 the sum paid in Hokitika.

Mr Revell said that in order to carry it out successfully at LI Is per annum, they would require 200 members.

Mr F. Hamilton was of opinion that LI Is was too small, as it would be impossible to get 200 members, especially as they would have to pay LIOO for the pur*chase of books during the first year.

A discussion took place as to whether the amount of the annual subscription should be fixed then, or left until the Committee reported, during which the Mayor stated that there was a propability of the Borough Council assisting the institution, and he believed the governing body, whether County or Provincial, would do the same.

Mr J. Kerr said, that whenever money was wanted for any publio purpose in Greymouth it had always been forth-

coming, and he believed it would be so on the present occasion, if the business people of the town and district , were asked to subscribe a sufficient sum to buy the library and present it to a Mechanics' Institution. If that were don«), then the LI Is per annum might be sufficient to cover all expenses if from 150 to 200 members could be secured. The small annual subscriptions would not be sufficient without what he had proposed, and he thought it should be made a recommendation to any Committee which might be appointed, to canvass for subscriptions to purchase the books', as' well as for anriualsubscriptions. ; '

Mr Wgolcook moved an amendment that the word; " quarterly " be ; struck out of the" motion.

My Retell seconded, and it was carried!

The motion, as amended, was then put and carried.

The following Committee was then appointed to carry out the objects of the meeting :— The Rev. G. T. N. Watkins, Messrs J. Kerr, C. Woolcock, J. Orr, H. Newton, W. Cooper, and R. C. Reid. Messrs Revell, W. S. Smith, and H. Kenrick were nominated but declined to stand, having been members of the old Committee. In doing so they disclaimed any antagonism with the present movement, or that any exclusiveness had ever existed in the old Society! The entire fault of the failure of the Society lay in the apathy of the general public, and if the matter was fairly investigated it would be seen that the gentlemen who had kept afloat at their own cost for three years a Literary Society and Reading-room were entitled to the best thanks of the community. Mr Hill also declined to stand, because the word " quarterly," which he considered the essence of the resolution, had been struck out. After these explanations the meeting adjourned.