AUCKLAND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 607, 7 February 1852, Page 3

AUCKLAND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

The Annual Meeting of the Members was held in the Hall of the Institute yesterday evening ; — His Worship the Mayor in the Chair. The Secretary (Mr. A. W. Hansard) read the following Report of the Committee for the past year. Report. The Committee appointed by you on the 7th of February, 1851, have now the honour to present their Report of the proceedings of the Mechanics' Institution during the past year. Whilst, all circumstances considered, your Committee feel that the affairs of the Institution since the last Annual General Meeting have not been without some ground for congratulation, they feel also that they are imperatively called upon to remind its friends that it has not met with that encouragement at their hands of which the former year of its existence gave promise. By reference to the report of their predecessors, read on the 7th of February last, it appears that in the then last past quarter there were on the 101 l of the members of the Institute 152 names. In the first quarter of the present year there were only 135. In the second quarter there were 134; in the third quarter 128; and in the quarter ending January 31st there were only 95 who had paid their subscriptions. But this great falling off in the number of the members, accounted for, as it doubtless is in a great measure by removals of some from the town, by departures of some to the newly-discovered auriferous attractions of the neighbouring colonies, and by the decease oi some, does not appear to your Committee to be cause of deeper regret than the lukewarmness evinced by those -whose names still continue on the list in availing themselves of the privilege of their membership. Your Committee can only express their regret that the fact is as they now feel it but their duty to report, and trust that their successors may, at the expiration of another year, be able to speak in terms of a brighter character in this respect. Included in the numbers befoiementioned are some new members who have been added to our Institution, ■ — in the first Quarter, nine, in the second, ten, in the third, six ; amongst these, it may be mentioned, stands the name of His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor, who has evinced his interest in the Institution by causing himself to be proposed for membership. The following Lectures have been delivered in the Hall of the Institution during the past year; viz.: — On the 25th of March, and 12th May, "On the Aborigines of this. Country/ by the Rev. 'Ihoa. Buddie. On the 6th of June, " On New Zealand Flax," by Mr. Matthew Whytlaw. On the 20th of same month, "On Gold and Gold Finders, with some account of the Diggings of New Zealand," by Augustus B. Abraham, Esq. On the 23rd of September, "On the Unity of the Human Species," by the Rev. John Inglis. On the 23rd October, "On Habits and Practices conducive to the improvement and culture of the Mind," by Mr. Joseph Robinson, and On the 10th November, <• On the Origin of the Art of Printing," by Mr. Albert William Hansard. The attendance of the Members of the Institution at these Lectures (with the exception of those by the Rev. Mr. Buddie, which were amongst the best attended, and most productive, in a pecuniary view, delivered since the re-organization of the Institute,) has not been so numerous as might have been well anticipated, indeed, it has been really discouraging; nevertheless your Committee do not doubt that all will unite in tendering thanks to the gentlemen named for their kind acquiescence when requested by them to render their assistance in forwarding the purposes of your Institution. Your Committee have availed themselves as far as means would allow, of any opportunities occurring to add to the stock of the Library, and have purchased in all, at various times, 105 vols., and 103 magazines and periodicals, at an expense, as will be seen on reference to the financial account which will now be laid before yoa, of £18 10s. 4d. The Librarian reports that the average number of books borrowed at the Library during the first six months of the year was 88 per month, by an average number of 50 members ; and during the last six months of 61 per month, by an average of only 30 members. The highest number of borrowers in any month of the year was 58, the lowest 33. Many applications having been made for copies of the Laws of the Institution, and of catalogues of the books in the Library, the Committee caused 250 copies to be printed, but only about 50 copies have yet been sold. The attendance at the drawing class, conducted by Mr. P. Hogan, did not warrant your Committee in continuing the expense of that gentleman's salary, and the lighting the room, &c, and the class was broken up at commencement of the year, and Mr. Hogans services were of course dispensed with. Your Committee have discharged two extraordinary claims made upon the funds of the Institution during the term of their management, viz., one by John McDougal, Esq., Treasurer of the Institution in 1847 for £5 7s. 9d. overdrawn from him in- that year; and for the expenses of the Soiree held on the sth February, 1851 over the receipts, amounting to £6 3s. 4d. The Assets of the Institution amount to £24 14s. Id ; the Liabilities, £14 10s. Od.; leaving a balance in favour of the funds of the Institution of £\ 0 4s. Id. The decease of R. Lynd, Esq., elected one of the Vice-Presidents of the Institution at the last Annual General Meeting has proven a great loss to its management. Your Committee, who had the benefit of the deceased gentleman's assistance in their deliberations on all occasions of their meeting at which his long failing health did not prevent bis attendance, recorded their sense of that loss in a minute on the books of the Insti- ' tution on the 15th August. Your Committee in concluding this Report, feel it their duty to make a most urgent appeal to the friends of this Institution to bestir themselves for its support and advancement. They can, however, find no more forcible argument than recalling attention to its declared object — the promotion of useful and entertaining knowledge among its members. To aid in this you can all do something. You may interest some scientific or literary friend to Lecture to your fellow members in your Hall ; or you may induce some to join in the establishment! of classes for the reading and discussion of original papers, or the attainment of a knowledge of the Arts and Sciences ; or you may, at least, assist in the extension of the general co-opei ation for these ends, by suggesting to your friends to join in membership of your Institution, " that" (to borrow the words of your Honorable President used in an opening Lecture at its reorganization in 1850) " it may the more early attain a vigorous maturity, and become the effectual means, not merely at present, but in time to come, of exercising a beneficial influence on the moral and social condition of all classes of the community." With an earnest aspiration that such vigorous maturity may soon be attained, your Committee now beg to return into your bands the charge which you did them the honour to confide in them. The election of the Officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, according to the mode

defined in the Laws of the Institution. The following gentlemen were chosen :—: — President — William Swainson, Esq., (Attor-ney-general). Vice -Presidents — Drs. Bennett arid Campbell. Treasurer— Thomas Lewis, Esq. Hon. Secretary— -Mr. A. W". Hansard. Auditors— Messrs. A. Clark, R. Schultz, and G. Smith. / Committee — Mr. J. W. Bain; Mr. J. T. Boylan; Mr. A. Clark; Mr. W. Connell; Mr. W. C. Daldy ; Mr. P. Dignan ; Mr. T. S. Forsaith ; Mr. J. A. Gilfillan ; Mr. W. Hughes ; Mr. G. Hunter ; Mr. H. Jarvis ; Mr. L. OBrien; Mr. R. Schultz ; Mr. J. Williamson ; and Mr. W. C. Wilson. Thanks having been voted to the Mayor for his kind and efficient conduct in the Chair, the Meeting separated.