NAPIER MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 183, 15 July 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

NAPIER MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE

On Friday evening]last, the" annual general meeting of members was held at the Institute. In the absence of the President, H. B. Sealy, Esq., took the chair, and proceeded to read the following REPORT. The Committee have called 'a general meeting of the members of this Institution at the close of the first year, for the purpose of reporting upon the present condition and progress of, the Institution and of making further arrangements for the ensuing year. The number of subscriptions actually paid for the past year, was 123. A few other names were entered as having promised to subscribe, but the Committee regret to add that these latter had to be expunged, after many ineffectual attempts to obtain payment of the money. The Librarian having reported that several Applications had been made to him by persons desirous of subscribing for a shorter period than a year, after considering the circumstances the Committee resolved that it would bo to thelnterest of the Institution that half-yearly and quarterly subscriptions should be received, but in order to compensate for the extra labor of collection, and also to offer an inducement to permanent settlers to subscribe by the year, the Committee considered it desirable that some additional charge should be made for the shorter periods, and accordingly they fixed the half-yearly subscription at 11s., and the quarterly at 6s. to be paid in advance. In order also to’maintain uninformity in the periods at which the subscriptions should terminate, they arranged that subscribers desirous of entering during the currency of a quarter can do so by paying for the broken period 2s. per month, or part of a month, in addition to the quarterly or halfyearly subscription, but they do not recommend that in any case a subscription for a less period than 3 months should bo received. Whilst the Committco'have’becn so far induced to modify the terms of subscription for the purpose of meeting particular 'cases, they trust the bulk of the members of the Institute will still continue to subscribe by the year, for otherwise it will be obvious that great delay will be experienced in obtaining the funds necessary to procure additional supplies of books, which can only be done after the ordinary current expenses have been provided for. The statement which has been prepared by the Treasurer will shew the present financial position of the Institute. The lease of this building expires at the end of another twelve months and during that interval it will be necessary to take such steps as may be necessary with a view to that event. The Committee are of opinion that <a smaller building would be equally serviceable, and such a building could probably be erected with the funds belonging to the Institute now lent on Mortgage, thus saving the annual sum of £lB now paid as rent of this building (over and above the interest claimed from the-loan of the money), and obviating the inconvenience which is found to result, from the Hall being periodically required for the use of the Masonic Lodge. The Committee have been almost entirely disappointed of that portion of their estimated revenue which was expected to be derived from the use of the Hall for public entertainments, and which was estimated at £lO a year. Even, however, if the estimated revenue had been received from this source, it may be questioned whether the disturbance thus caused to the ordinary business of the Institute would have been sufficiently compensated for; and therefore they consider that in the event of a building being erected for the special purposes of this Institution, the want of accommodation for such public entertainments would be no drawback to its success. The Committee have had under their consideraItion the Subject of Lectures to be occasionally deivered in the Institution during the winter. One gentleman has kindly volunteered his services, and as the Committee are of opinion that a suitable course of lectures would be conducive £to the prosperity and utility of the Institution, they would gladly receive any suggestion or assistance in furtherance of this object. The books ordered in December last arrived in Wellington by the ship West Australian and may be shortly expected at Napier. In selecting from the catalogue of Mr. C. Mudio the Committee en-

deavored to procure a variety of literature to suit the taste of every reader, excluding only the worthless class of fiction. Of the superior works of fiction however they regret to find that a portion of the books ordered are not included in the present consignment, the reason of which omission has not been explained. Amongst these may be named the works of Charles Dickens and some of those of the late W. M. Thackeray. The death of the late Don. Sec. caused a vacancy, which has been temporarily filled by the appointment of Mr. Carver, who kindly consented to act provisionally. The Librarian having unexpectedly tendered his resignation on Wednesday last, the Committee have decided to appoint Mr. Robert Curtis, and to combine the Secretaryship with the office of Librarian. The Treasurer then read the balance sheet, shewing a balance of £6O to the credit of the Institute. The following members were elected as a committee for the ensuing half-year—Messrs. Lindsay, Boylan, Sealy, Brandon (Treasurer), Thomson, Carver (Secretary), Holder, Lament, and Trestrail. Messrs. W. W. Yates and A. Kennedy were appointed Auditors. From a discussion which ensued, it appeared that the committee had been misinformed as to Mr. Curtis’s willingness to accept the office of Librarian at the salary fixed, and therefore the appointment to the vacant post rests with the newly-elected committee. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.