NELSON INSTITUTE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 50, 27 February 1880, Page 2

NELSON INSTITUTE.

Hitherto the annual meetings of the members of the Institute have been but thinly attended, but last night the room was full, about 35 being present. The chair was taken by Mr O. Curtis. The report and balance sheet were read by the Hon. Secretary, Mr Percy, and, on the motion of Mr D. Grant, seconded by Mr Topliss, were adopted. On the motion of Mr Acton Adams, seconded by Dr. Irvine, it was resolved that in future the accounts be published prior to the meeting,

The next business was the election of members of the Committee, but the Chairman ruled that the whole of the nominations were invalid, on the ground that they were not made at the time prescribed by the rules.- A lengthy discussion ensued, and ultimately it was resolved to adjourn the meeting until Wednesday, the 10th March, at eight o'clock, 3even clear days prior to which date nominations must be made of proposed office bearers and rtteniberß of the Committee. The following are the present offlcera and Committee men:— President, Mr Henry Adams, VicePresident, vacant by the death of Mr Pollock; Treasurer, Mr Curtis; Secretary, Mr Percy. Committee: Meßsrs G Hodgson.. D. Barns, J. R. DoJson, Catley, ,Mabin, Greenfield, W. C. Hodgson, arid Dr Irvine. The following new candidates for the Committee had been proposed : — Messrs Schofield, Acton Adams, Clarkson, E. Moore, J. Hounsell, A. Atkinson, and D. Grant. The following is the Report. In presenting the annual accounts of receipts and expenditure the Committee have the satisfaction of being again able to congratula'e the members on the still steadily improving position of the Institute^both financially and numerically. The aubseriptions received during the past year amount to £115 148, and the number of members to 282, showing a considerable increase over previous years, and that notwithstanding the entire cessation of receipts from the Reading itoom. Libkart. During the past year 260 volumes have i been added to the Library, which may be classified as follows: — History, 8; Poetry, 5; Travels, 31; Science, 17; Biography, 13; Fiction, 146; Miscella»eous, 40. The issues, both of books and periodicals, has also correspondingly increased. The system of recording the issue and return of books inaugurated last year not having been duly carried out, the gentlemen composing the Sub-Committee have established a still simpler method which can hardly fail, if adhered to, to ensure exact record being obtained. The actual contents of the Library have been ascertained, and the books rearranged and classified at considerable trouble and expense, and the hearty thanks of the members are due to the SubCommittee for the time and care they have bestowed on the subject. An arrangement has been come to with the Nelson Foreign Book Club by which the Institute Library will ultimately be enriched with a good selection of French, German, and Italian authors, on incurring the minor expense of having them bound in London. The proceeds of the lecture kindly given by Mrs E. Britten, amounting to £10 7s nett, have enabled the Committee to extend their order for new books. The sum of £35 was remitted laat year, and a further sum of £20 has been sent since the commencement ef the present year. As a proper acknowledgment of Mrs Britten's services, the Committee have constituted her a life member. Reading Room. Since the Report of last year the Committee have made several additions and improvements to the Reading Room, which is much more frequented than heretofore, but it is a source of regret that the Committee are unable from paucity of funds to furnish the Reading Room as well as they could wish with the best Colonial newspapers. It would greatly assist the Committee in remedying this want if those who made U9e of the Reading Room would contribute to the funds by subscribing to the Library. Musedm. Considerable additions have been made to the Museum collection during the past year both by purchase and gift, a list of which is appended. More glass cases are wanted to enable the Curator to arrange the specimens of birds more satisfactorily. The Committee have to thank Mr Acton Adams for his kind exertions in obtaining from Mr Hall, the Premier, a vote of £50 for the Museum. This is a most welcome addition to the fund, which was gradually decreasing, and would in course of time have been entirely absorbed. It is to be hoped, however, that the Government will be induced to continue this assistance, and so enable the Committee to make the Museum more attractive. House. Little or no outlay has been incurred upon the buildings of the Institute, which, however, will shortly require painting. The two unoccupied rooms upstairs have been let at a small rental, thereby adding to the limited income at the disposal of the Committee. Presentations to Committee 1879. Copper Ore from Durville's Island, Mr J. Houngell; Whip Snake (purchased), Dr Irvine; Miuah Bird, Mr T. Gilbert; Young salmon (first in Nelson), Mr J. Hounsell; Quartz from Ballarat, Mr Budden; Star Fish and Moth, Mr W. Scaly; Caterpillar, Mr St. John; Australian Boomerang, Capt. Garsia; Native Adze, Captain Garsia; Kiwi, purchased by Committee; two specimens of " Rasulia Haustie," Mias Pollock; three New Zealand Snails (Takaka), Mr H. Adams; Brown Grebe, Mr Woodcock; Fish from near Durville's Island, Mr J. Kerr; Case of Coral Specimens and Shells, purchased by Committee; Competition Model for Maungatapu Monument, Mr T. Watts; Ores and Kerosine Shale from New South Wales, Mr Hackett; Specimens of Cotton and Seeds of Tree from U.S., F. Cook ; Long tailed Molucca Crab and Tail of a Stingaree, Mr J. Garrard ; Buttepfly, Mr F. Akersten ; Small Bat, purchased by Committee ; a double egg, with out shell, Mr H. Martin ; Butterfly aud curious Beetle, Mrs Greenfield ; Specimen of a Weta Rere (spider), Mr Catley ; a Green Parroquet, Miss Stanley.