MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 349, 6 December 1848, Page 2

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Thk half-yearly General Meeting of ' the Members of the Port Nicholson, Mechanics* Institute took place on Monday evening, at the Rooms of the Institute, Kumutotostreet. The attendance,- owing to the unfavourable state of the weather, was very limited. •> . . , • The Chairman, Mr. Lyon, ■ having briefly stated the! object of the meeting,, called on the Secretary to read the following report : The Committee of the Port Nicholson Mechanics' Institute, in presenting their first report to the members, beg to remind them of the short space of time during which they have held office/ th% infant' state of the Institute, and the recent circumstances .of the colony, as reasons which they hope will be deemed sufficient to account for the little that has been effected, and the consequent brevity of this report. 'The -Committee have been much engaged in the consideration of such plans as appeared' calculated' to give .permanence to the Institute, by making it both useful and attractive, some'of which plans will be mentioned below, and .they are happy to be able to add that the progress of the Institution has been on the whole' very salisfaclo^r| £* The number of members who have already joined is 135, of these |1 paid their subscriptions for one year, an<J>,i64'.. paid, for half a year. Out of the funds so received £20 was remitted to London per H.M.S. Calliope, to be laid out in the . purchase Ma. carefully selected list of books. The, .balance, now remaining >in the hand* of the Treasurer, after payment of the 'current expenses of lh& Institute up to the present date f . amounts to the ; sum of £8:10:4. "V . -

The library, since the re-opening of ihe Institute, has received additions to the number of 117 vols., exclusive of -periodicals. The erection of a'permanentbuildingforttie use of the Institute has been remitted to the consideration of a sub-c ommittee, whose report, whdn completed, will without lossVf time be brought under the notice of the members. In the mean time the Committee recommend the continuance of the Institute at ihe premises which it now occupies. The formation of classes for mutual improvement and tuition in music" Linear drawing, mathematics, chess and conversation, has also been leferred to a sob-committee, which had made some progress when interrupted by the late earthquakes. It is proposed that their labours should be resumed until the object is attained. The office of Secretary, held by Mr. Forster, having become vacant by his resignation, Mr. Sealey has kindly undertaken the duties until the meeting of the members might enable them to appoint a successor. The laws of the Institute have undergone careful revision, and as revised will be submitted to the meeting. On the occasion of the' death of the late Col. Wakefield, one of'the trustees of the Institute, a resolution of condolence on the part of the Committee . was communicated to his relatives. W. Fox, Esq., the Acting Priucipal Agent of the New Zealand Company, has since accepted the office rendered vacant by the melancholy event. It may be proper to remind the members that there is in the Savings Bank a sum of about £20 appropriated towards the Building Fund, so that however little has been effected, such a commencement has been made as the Committee hqpe will be regarded as an earnest of their ultimate success. The Treasurer then read the following statement of the accounts : Pobt Nicholson Mechanics' Institute. Balance Sheet.

Audited and found correct, Geo. Moose, John F, Baxlabd. It was then moved -by Mr. W. Everett, seconded by; Mr. G: Levey, and carried unanimously': ' ""' '' ' " That the report now' read be adopted." ' Moved by Mr. R. Forster, seconded by Mr. L. Levey, and>carried, unanimously : " That the following Gentlemen be elected the Committee of Management , for the ensuing half year : ■ - ' President. His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman. Vice-Presidents. W. Fox, Esq., • W. Lyon, Esq., G. Moore, Esq. Committee of Management : Messrs. J. M'Betb, 3. F. Ballard, R. Hart, J. Woodward, W. Norgrove, W. Spinks, J. Marriott, H. J. Cridland, W. W. Taylor, A. de B. Brandon, W. Hart, Rev. J. Watkin. Treasurer — Mr. R. J. Duncan. Secretary — Mr; H. B. Sealey. Librarian — Mr. Bush ell. Moved by Mr. G. Moore, seconded by Mr. Bould, and carried unanimously : " That a Subscription List be opened for the purpose of Traising'a fund fdf erecting a suitable building'fo'r the Institute." Moved by Mr. W. Spinks, seconded by Mr. , R. J. Duncan, and carried unanimously j t " , , " That the Governor-in-Chief, the .Lien-tenant-Governor^'Miii'the Principal ' Argent of the New Zealand Company, be applied to for subscriptions in aid of the above purpose."

1848. Dr. fulyl7-Tocashpaidforfirewood&candles £2 16 9 carpenter's accounts 314 0 cartage 0 7 0 sundryarticlesforthe use of the Boom . . 019 11 . . - . . , allowance s#■ cent. - ■for collecting, to Mr. Bushell 211 6 Bank draft on London 20 8 0 Stationery 0 8 0 , . C .. Mr. Busbell, Librarian 6 0 0 Mr. Stafford, rent of premises Kumutoto Street, from July 17 to December 4 .... 6 0 0 Balance in Savings 8ank ............ 8 10 4 £5110 6 1848. Cr.-talyl7-By subscription of 135 Members .£sl 10 6 .1 )ec. 4-By balance £8 10 4