The Aelson Evening Mail. MONDAY,FEBRUARY 14,1870 NELSON INSTITUTE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 37, 14 February 1870, Page 2

The Aelson Evening Mail. MONDAY,FEBRUARY 14,1870 NELSON INSTITUTE.

o The annual meeting was held on Thurs - day evening last, H. Adams, Esq., President iv the chair. The Hon. Secretary read the following report, which, with the balance sheet for the past year was unanimously adopted. In laying before you the Annual Statement of accounts for the past year, the committee are glad to inform the stibscribers that notwithstanding the depressed state of trade and business generally in Nelson, there has been no falling off in the number of subscribers, the subscription list showing an increase of 15 members during the year. As stated in last year's report, the division of the committee into sub-committees has had a' beneficial effect in the general management wbich in all probability would Inve been overlo ked by the general committee. The committee would be glad of any suggestions towards iwjreasing the funds at their dis posal by way of lectures or otherwise, as the present necessary expenditure leaves but a small balance to meet the demand for books of a popular character for the Library, and for carrying out any practical suggestions which may be made from time to time by the subscribers. MUSEUM. The gradual and steady increase^f presentations to the Museum has rendered it necessary to increase the space allotted for that purpose, and the general committee have given up a portion of the Reading Room for the purpose of providing increased accommodation, this has been effected at a cost of about £10 The Museum committee beg to acknowledge presentations to the Museum from the following gentlemen :— Mr T. C. Thorpe, Mr Brough, Mr Huddleston, Mr G. Smith, Mr E. Edwards, Dr. Greenwood, Mr Akersten, Mr Biackett, Mr Wells, Mr Fletcher, Mr Broad, and others. The committee have also purchased, and had set up, several skins of birds ; considerable difficulty is felt in getting a properly qualified person to stuff birds for the Museum, the committee have a great number of bird skins on hand, which they are unable to show, aud it is to be hoped that some one may be found to do away with this difficulty, LIBRABY COMMITTEE. The Library Committee report an addition of 94 works or 109 volumes, nearly equally apportioned between books of a solid and such as are of an entertaining and popular description. The issue of books has considerably increased in number. The reading-room has been curtailed with the view of affording increased accommodation preatly wanted, to the museum; it is believed that the comfort of members making use of the reading room has also been promoted by this arrangement. HOUSE COMMITTEE. The House Committee report an expenditure of about £35 in alterations and repairs. Three of the spare rooms are let at a rental of £37 per annum, and another room is at present unoccupied. GENERAL COMMITTEE. The General Committee have to thajnk Dr. Giles R. M. at the West Coast for his kindness in giving a lecture for the heneSt of the institute; this yielded a nett profit to tha funds of £7, and the Committee venture to express a hope that others will be fouad to render similar service, thereby materially increasing the usefulness of an institution which cannot be valued too highly, JNO PERCY, Hon. Sec. The retiring officers were re-elected, with tbe exception of Dr. Irvine who is leaving Nelson, Dr. Squireß being elected ia his place. After a vote of thauks to the chairman the meeting separated.

The circulation of the Petit Journal, the French half-penny paper has increased since the Pantin murder from 280,000 to 470,000 nightly.