WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 602, 10 May 1851, Page 3

WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM.

The following is the Report of the Wellington Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute fo°the half-year ending 6th May, 1851 :— The termination of the' ninth year of the existence of this Institution gives the Committee the opportunity of recording its progress, and at the same time of laying before its members the plans they have formed for, a ')d the hopes they entertain of, its future and more extended usefulness. . Carrying out the arrangements of the previous Committee, the Lectures that had been announced were delivered i n (Jng course 2nd much interest was excited by the experiments y which the Lectures on Electricity and Galvanism were illustrated. The books referred to in the last Report as mvtng been ordered from England have been re ceived, and with some degree both of re--Bret and pleasure the Committee observe that most of them are already well worn. several valuable donations of books have „ een received, among which the Committee especially notice— Hobbes’ Works, 16 vols., from Sir W. Molesworth 104 vols. of books from Mrs. Fox, includ1 Vo ' s ’ ie Illustrated London News with continuation Thn°n 0 - I b °° ks from Mr - Burnand Builder of 1849, from Mr. Dean

besides others from Mr. Hart, Dr. Knox, and other friends of the Institute ; and specimens of Natural History from Messrs. Park, Waitt, Lyon, and Weld. The Hall of the Institute, although affording facilities for Lectures and general meetings, yet being very unsuitable for a reading room, and offering no convenience for meetings of classes, the first efforts of the Committee were directed to the building of at least one of the wings as shewn in the original design of the building. For this purpose they borrowed from Messrs. W. B. Rhodes and W. E. Wallace a fund of which those gentlemen were trustees, and which not being required for the original purpose for which it was subscribed, was allowed by the subscribers to be lent to the Institute for five years at 5 per cent, interest per annum. The Temperance Society also had raised a sum for building themselves a Hall, but which not being yet sufficient for their purpose, they have lent to the Institute for three years, without interest, on condition of beifrg allowed the use of a room once in each week if they should require it. These sums together amounted to £BB : 7 : 9, and with this, aided by contributions from various friends, including £5 from the President of the Institution, the Committee have erected the southern wing; and at the suggestion of several of the members who undertook to contribute ss. each for the purpose, they have lined the Hall with boards and calico, so as to materially increase both its comfort and the neatness of its appearance. Towards the last mentioned expense assistance is solicited, as the Committee have already been obliged to anticipate the expected income of the ensuing half-year.

The catalogue of the books has not yet been completed, but now that the library is arranged in the new wing the Committee hope that this very useful and necessary work will be accomplished. The music and drawing classes have discontinued their meetings for want of a private room, but as the Hall will now be unoccupied for three or four evenings in each week they may be expected to be resumed, and other classes may be formed, one of which—for mutual instruction—is already in progress.

A course of Lectures for the ensuing session has been prepared, and although the arrangements are not absolutely complete, yet the Committee refer with satisfaction to the programme which they have published, and hope to see it so far extended that a lecture may be delivered in each week of the winter, diversified by an occasional conversazione.

To obviate inconvenience that might possibly arise from the circumstance of the Committee whose term of office expires in May being obliged to make arrangements for lectures, all of which are to be delivered after their successors are appointed, the Committee have requested one of their number to propose for yonr consideration this evening an addition to the rules, which will make such arrangements conclusive.

Mr. Pickett, who has so ably filled the office of Secretary since September, 1849, has been under the necessity of resigning, in consequence of removing from the settlement, and the Committee in accepting his resignation presented him with a vote of thanks as an expression of their sense of the value of his services : the vacancy so occasioned has been temporarily supplied by the appointment of Mr. Seed.

J. Woodward, Hon. Treat. Audited by (W Allen, J IR. Lambert. Wellington, May 6, 1851. Pursuant to notice Mr. Woodward moved the adoption of the following Rule, which was seconded by Mr. Roberts, and carried :— That to obviate possible inconvenience, the Committee whose term of office expires in May from year to year, having made arrangements for Lectures to be delivered after the expiration of their term of office, the arrangements so made shall be carried out by their successors. Moved by Mr. Allen, seconded by Mr. Blyth, and carried unanimously:— That a subscription of ten shillings and sixpence per annum, payable in advance, yearly or halfyearly on the Ist January or Ist July in each year shall entitle the contributor t o hll the benefits of the Institution, to vote at the election of officebearers, and to enjoy all the privileges of membership except he be under sixteen years of age, in which case the Committee may, in their discretion, grant tickets of Membership, at half the above fee, entitling the holder to all the same privileges, saving the use of the reading-room, and further, that he shall not be qualified to vote at the election of office-bearers, or to have any voice in the management of the Institute. The Committee may in like manner issue tickets to ladies on the same terms. No member of less than six months’ standing shall be eligible for office.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing half-year:— President— Mr. Justice Chapman. Vice-Presidents— G. Moore, R. Hart, W. Lyon, Esquires. Committee— Messrs. C. Mills, E. Roberts, T. Fitzgerald, W. Spinks, R. J. Duncan, C. D. Barraud, J. Plimmer, W. Mantell. Treasurer — Mr. Jonas Woodward.

Secretary— Mr. William Seed. The four senior Members of the Committee of the previous half-year continue in office.

A vote of thanks was also unanimously passed to the gentlemen who exerted their musical talents at the last anniversary.

Dr. To balance received from late Treasurer 14 1 • ’ Members’ subscriptions received £27 12 0 *' less Librarian’s commission for collecting...... 1 10 6 26 1 6 • ’ amounts received for use of Hall from Horticultural Society £1 1 o ’ * do. from Philharmonic Society for ball 2 2 0 • ’ do. from Building Society 10 0 • • do. from C. D. Barraud. .110 5 4 0 • • contribution from Drawing Class .. • • amounts received from non-Members 0 17 0 for admission to lectures 2 10 0 • • cash received for duplicate copies of books sold o 14 o • • loan from Messrs. W. B. Rhodes and W. E. Wallace of Trust Fund in thencharge 57 15 5 • • interest received from Savings’ Bank on the above sum. . 0 8 4 • • loan from the Port Nicholson Total Abstinence Society 30 12 4 •' donation from Mr. D. Anderson .. 2 2 0 ■ • special subscription for new wing., 12 13 fi • • do. do. lining Hall 1 5 0 • • profit of Anniversary Soiree 2 10 10 £163 8 0 To balance brought down.. .,£5!) 5 4

Or. By cash paid premium of Insurance.... £6 0 0 do. to E. Hall for Plastering Hall (being balance unpaid from last halfyear) 18 5 2 0 Librarian’s salary, 26 weeks 13 0 • - charges on box of Books per Eden.. cash paid P. Cotter on account of 0 5 0 new wing 45 o 0 do. cost of lining, as under— Wakeiin and Carter, carpenter’s work £6 11 3 W. Norgrove, calico and distemper 2 10 0 9 1 •• Petty expenses, candles.. 3 16 0 Books & stationery, cartage, &c 1 g 0 Firewood 110 0 Advertisements & printmg 3 10 3 Attendance of Librarian duringbuildingof wing two days 0 12 0 • * cash paid six months’ interest on de10 16 3 bentures 1 15 o '" balance carried down 59 5 4 £163 8 0