MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 136, 21 August 1863, Page 3

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

A meeting of the members of this Institution was held on Wednesday evening last, at the Masonic Hall, . for the transaction of necessary business. The Secretary read the following REPORT. The Committee appointed provisionally at a public meeting at Napier on the 29th May, 1863, to take measures for the establishment of a Mechanics’ Institute in Napier having accomplished the object of their appointment have called together the members of the Institution for the purpose of presenting to them a report as to the Way in which the Committee have fulfilled their trust, with information relating to the present condition and prospects of the Institution ; and also for the purpose of electing a committee and officers for managing the affairs of the Institution, and of considering a code of rules which have been prepared by the Provisional Committee. By an arrangement with the Scinde Lodge of Free Masons, the Committee have obtained the use of this building for the term of two years, at a rental of £SO per annum, subject to the following conditions : 1. The Institution, in addition to the rent, is to pay one-half the annual insurance of the building. 2. The Free Masons are to have the use of the building for their-monthly meetings, and also, if required, for six other days in each year free of charge, on giving to the Secretary four days’ notice of their so requiring it. 3. The profits accruing from the letting of the Hall for public entertainments are to go to the funds of the Mechanics’ Institute. 4. The Provincial Government, at the request of the Committee, has lent to the said Scinde Lodge the sum of £320, being the Government contribution towards the building fuud. This loan is for a period of two years, and is to bear interest at ten per cent, per annum, thereby reducing the actual net rent payable out of the funds of the Institution to £lB per anuum. On presenting a balance sheet to the members, the- Committee have the pleasure to inform them that 120 members have joined, of whom IOS have already paid up their subscriptions for the year. Mr. Palmer has been appointed librarian, and the Institution is open to the members (daily) from six to fen o’clock, in the evening, excepting Sundays and; those days Whep the Hall is required by the Masonic or used for public entertainments. About..,. , volumes of books have been presented which are already numbered and entered iri*a catalogue, *and' these are issued to the members under regulations temporarily made by the Committee. The Committee sent an order to Mr. Yarty of Auckland in June, but they regret to state that he was unable to furnish the English.periodicals required without a delay of some months. A similar application to Mr. W. Lyon of Wellington was equally unsuccessful. Copies of the.lllustrated London News, Punch, and the Home Nows, have been obtained in Napier to be supplied till the

end of this year; and a remittance of £lO has been sent to Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. of London for a further supply of periodicals and newspapers. A lecture (free to members) was delivered in the Institute on the Bth inst. by His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston who also kindly consented on his return to Wellington to submit for the consideration of the Committee a list of suitable books to be ordered from England. In reference to the appointment of officers, it has been found that a committee of five is too small to secure a quorum of three at all times ; and it is recommended that the committee should consist of seven members, and that the Secretary and Treasurer be appointed from the members of the committee. His Honor the Superintendent having been elected as President by the public meeting before referred to, the committee hope the members will confirm that election. Mr. J. A. Smith has declined the office of Treasurer, and Mr. Brandon has been appointed as Acting-treasurer by the committee. The Rev. P. Barclay wishes to retire in consequence of the distance of his residence, and otner calls upon his time, rendering it very inconvenient to him to attend. Mr. Holt is also anxious to retire. The other members of the Committee and the Honorary Secretary offering themselves for reelection. The balance sheet showed that the receipts amounted to ,£2lO 15s. 2d., and the expenditure to £6B 15s. lOd. ; leaving a balance of £142 Os. 4d. in favor of the Institute. The computed receipts and expenditure for the current year was £176 ss. '• The following gentlemen were appointed on the committee : —‘Messrs. Sealy, Lindsay, Thomson, Boylan, Lound, Brandon (treasurer), Bridge, (secretary). D. McLean, Esq., was re-elected president. Messrs. Lament and Wood were appointed auditors. The rules of the Institution framed by the Managing Committee were slightly amended and adopted.