AUCKLAND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.
The Annual Meeting of llie members of this Institution was held in the Hall of the Institute, on Thursday evening last,—Dr. Bennett, Vice-President in the Chair. The Honorary Secretary, Mr. A. W. Hansard, read the following Report for the past year: Another year in the history of our Mechanics' Institution having passed away it becomes the duly of (hat number of your members, appointed at the General Annual Meeting held on the Gth of Feb. 1832, as a Committee for the management of its general affairs, lo report to you thereupon. Your Committee, although they leel there is ample cause to regret that an Institution promoted and carried on for the furtherance of such objecls as those of the Auckland Mechanics' Institution, does not count amongst its members a far greater number of that class for which more especially (as indeed its name would indicate) it is intended. Still they feel (hat there is cause for congratulation that notwithstanding the many changes and exciting events arising around us during the past year your Institution has been able lo keep its ground—to fulfil (although it must not be concealed only lo a very limited extent) Ihe purpose of ils establishment, viz., the promotion of useful and entertaining knowledge, and lo do somewhat in facilitating and adding lo its means of usefulness in future. II will be regarded as matter of very little surprise by those who reflect on the changes which have affected the community generally, that your Committee have to report that the ilucluations in the roll of the members of the past year have been considerable. By the report presented at the last Annual General Meeting, it appeared that there were on the 51st of January 1832, 93 members of the Institution. In the Grst quarter of the (Institute's) year now ending Ihere were 101 members; in the second quarter there were 98; in (he third 9i ; and in the quarter ending 50th January, ult., (here were but 89 members upon the roll. Your Committee, however, have hope that as the lessening of the number of the members may in this, as in last year, be very easily accounted for on Ihe recollection of the influence excited by the golden attractions of the neighbouring colonies, so thai, as the reaction is now from various causes commencing lo operate, the numbers and strength of the Institution may, from the same reasoning, now be looked for to begin to increase in even a much greater proportion. In the course of the year, 22 new members have joined the Institution. Your Committee, although Ihcy have made every exertion lo accomplish so great a desideratum, have been unable lo obtain any considerable number of Lcclnrcs to be delivered in your Hall. Application made at different limes lo nineteen gentlemen whom it was thought would be highly qualified, if willing, to forward the objects of the Institution ; having been successful only in the following cases : The Rev. Mr. Hamer, who, on the 12th of March, delivered a Lecture on the '' Advantages and Pleasures of Scientific Knowledge and Pursuits;" Dr. Bennett, one of the Vice-Presidents, who, on the loth of April, delivered a Lecture on " The Life and Writings of Oliver Goldsmith;" Mr. Wm. Singer, who, on the 4lh of May, delivered a Lecture on " Education according lo the Glasgow Training System ;" Wm. Gisborne, Esq., who, on the 49th of May, delivered a Lecture on " The Age we Live in:" Dr. ball is ton, who, on Ihe I Gth of August, delivered a Lecture on " Anatomy and Physiology ;" Mr. B. Reynolds, who, on the 7th of July, dedelivered a Lecture on " The Writings of Charles Dickens ;" Captain Rough, who, on the 19th of January last, delivered a Lecture on " The Stale of Chili in 1830 ;" And Mr. Sanderson who has nnderlakcn to give a Lecture about the end of the next month. Although Ihe attendance at the Lectures has not again this year been so numerous as might have been both hoped for and anticipated, your Committee believo that the cordial thanks of this Institution will be acknowledged by all to be due to the above-named gentlemen who have kindly aided in forwarding the interests and objects of your Institution. Your Committee have done all that the means at their disposal would allow in increasing the attractions to the Library. They have purchased at various opportunities 152 volumes at an expense of ltil. Gs. Bd.; amongst these purchased is a complete set of Sir Waller Scott's novels, which several members had at times expressed a desire to have in the Library. The Library has also received several valuable additions by donation, amongst which are an almost complete set of " Weald's Elementary
Treatise,""46 vols., from Win. Swainsoh, Esq., Attorney-General, President of the Institution; a complete set of (he " Encyclopaedia Britannica," from Mr. John Williamson ; a '' Life of Wilberforce," from Mr. Arch. Clark, a " Life of Sir Stamford Raffles" and other volumes, from Mr. .Tames George. "La yard's Ninevah," "History of Iho Mormons," " History of Van Diemcn'sLand," and twenty-two other volumes, from J. W. Bain, Esq. The Committee have not failed, in the name of the members, to thank these and other donors of books to the Library. A loss to Ihe Institution was sustained on the the 7(h of October last by the resignation of the office of Treasurer by Thomas Lewis, Esq., (who was about to leave the colony) and by whom it had been filled since the rc-organiza-tion of the Institution in ISoO. The Committee tendered their thanks in the name of the members to Mr. Lewis for his services so efficiently performed, and appointed Mr. T. S. Forsailh to act as Treasurer for the remainder of the year. On the 21st of October a resignation was sent in by Mr. Henry Cuthbcrt, of the joint offices of Assistant Secretary and Librarian ; Mr. Cuthbcrt being also about to leave the colony. The Committee regretted the necessity (Mr. Cuthbcrt having always given unequivocal satisfaction) and elected out of five candidates for the appointment, Mr. Casey, who is now fulfilling the duties of the joint offices. The Balance Sheet which will now be laid before you shows the receipts of the Institution during the past year to have been 91L As. id., and the expenditure BGL As. 2rf., leaving a balance in the hands of the Acting Treasurer of Al. 19.?. iliL, which balance, with the quarter's subscription now due, is, however, subject to the payment for the making of some forms for the Hall, and a quarter's salary which will be due to Mr. Culpan in a few days. The Funds of the Institution, which have hitherto been receiving accession from the Odd Fellows Society and from the Independent Congregation, will no longer receive these aids—the Odd Fellows Society having removed to their new Hall, ceased to occupy your building for their meetings after November last, and Mr. Ilamer shortly afterwards removed his congregational meetings to their Hall. The Institution is therefore now indeed almost entirely dependent on the subscriptions of the members for the support of the necessary expenses, the addition of further books to the Library, and any contingencies which may from time to time arise. Your Committee, in now resigning into your hands the trust which you have done them the honour to entrust to them, would therefore endeavour to impress upon the mind of the friends of Education—and the promotion of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge—the imperative necessity of endeavouring to keep up and continually to add to the numerical strength of the Institution, and thus increase its sphere of usefulness. The Committee whom you may now appoint may be provided with means of furthering the objects of the Institution —may meet with those who will be willing as well as able to impart information on subjects of general interest —may be furnished by you or elsewhere with means for Ihe purchase of books for the Library —may be able to establish classes, or otherwise to promote the objects of the Institution ; but it is the general number of members who, by showing their interest in receiving, and inducing others to come in and receive the benefits of the Institution, that will afford them the encouragement and rewarding satisfaction they will hope to participate in with yourselves in the increasing prosperity of your Institution. Mr. Hansard then read the Financial Statement for the year, as attested by the signatures of the Auditors, Messrs. A. Clark and R. Sehultz. On the motion of Mr. Swinburn, seconded by Mr. Fairtmrn, tlie General and Financial Reports as thus presented were adopted and approved by the Meeting. The formal nomination of Patron, and the election of the several officers of the Institution for the ensuing'year were then proceeded with in the manner prescribed by the Laws, and with the following results: Patron— His Excellency the Governor-in Chief. President—Wm. Swainson, Esq., AttorneyGeneral. Vice-Presidents —Dr. Bennett and Mr. T. S. Forsailh, Treasurer —Mr. Wellcsley Hughes. Secretary —(There was no appointment to this office, as the late Honorary Secretary, Mr. A. W. Hansard had resigned, and the Rule requiring a notice of nomination to the office to be posted ten days before the Meeting, bad not been acted on by any of the members. It was agreed therefore that the new Committee should make such arrangements as they may judge best for the performance of the duties at present by the Assistant-Secretary and Librarian.) Committee —Messrs. J. T. Boylan, W. Bourne, Archibald Clark, Win. Connell, P. Dignan, E. Fairburn, A. W. Hansard, T. Mackv, L. O'Brien, W. Pulbam, T. Russell, M. Somerville, A. Swinburn, J. Williamson, and W. C. Wilson. Auditors— Messrs. A. Clark, L. O'Brien, and It. Sehultz. On the motion of Mr. J. Williamson, seconded by Mr. A. Clark, it was resolved, that the thanks of the meeting be given to Mr. Hansard for bis efficient and valuable services to the Institute as Honorary Secretary. Mr. L. O'Brien moved, seconded by Mr. J. Williamson, the addition of the following words to Rule 10 (that which requires that ten days notice must be given of the intention to nominate to the offices of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary respectively)—" Provided that in case no such notice shall have been posted, the Officers for the last year shall continue in their respective offices for the ensuing year. But provided also that in the event of any such Officers refusing to act for the ensuing year, it shall be competent for the General Meeting of Subscribers to elect from among themselves persons to fill such offices."— Carried. This concluded the business, and, after the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman, the Meeting separated.
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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 711, 5 February 1853, Page 3
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1,787AUCKLAND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 711, 5 February 1853, Page 3
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