WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 706, 8 May 1852, Page 2

WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE

A half yearly meeting of the members of the above Institution "was held in the Hall of the Atnenseum on Tuesday evening last, the 4th inst., Mr. Lyon, one of the Vice Presidents, in the chair. After the appointment of scrutineers to superintend the ballot for the election of the new committee and office bearers for the ensuing half-year, the Secretary and Treasurer read the following reports :—: — The half year which now terminates, embracing as it does, the whole of the Suminsr months, is necessary one of comparative inactivity. Lectures are suspended, principally in consequeuce of the warmth of the evenings, and of the outdoor attractions of the season. Readers from the same causes are much fewer than in the winter, and the report the Committee have to present is therefore samewhit meagre. ' In the last report the members were informed (hat the grant of money from the Legislature had been divided so as to fulfil the terms of the Minute of Council, to expend £100 in the purchase of Standard works. In conformity with the intentions of their, predecessors the Committee have sent £50 to Mr. John Knoviles, of London, for the purchase of Books, and as the list was framed with considerable care, the Committee feel confident that the Members will regard the works when they arrive, as a very va'uable addition to the Library. Some purchases have also been made in the Colony, including- a complete series of Murray's Home and Colonial Libiary, and the Committee are sill] lookingout to purchase suitable works as opportunity may offer. The fencing and other works necessary for enclosing the Building have not been completed iv consequence of the unavoidable delay in the issue of Crown Grants ; but this difficulty it is hoped will be speedily removed, so that before another half year closes the outside of the building may present a more finished appearauce, and be better protected from the effects of the weather; and should the Committee yet have it in their power to erect the second wing, and so complete the original plan, they feel that both the appearance and convenience of the building will .be so much improved as to make the Institution a source of increasing pleasure and utility to its Members, and thus to the whole community. One thing the Committee are especially anxious to see, viz: — A better Reading Room, and as a tempotary measure they propose to make some arrangements for the use of the Hall itsdf, for this purpose, ou such evenings- as if is 'not otherwise occupied. The Comn ittee still regret that no classes are in existence in connexion with this Institution. - The classes that have been formed in times past — however useful iv their way — were scarcely such as are usually contemplated in , Mechanics,' Institutes ; the pupils xfere almost invariably boys, instead of youths of fifteen years of age aud upwards. On this subject the Committee would-, be most happy to receive any suggestions from the Members, and would heartily co-operate in the formation and management of classes, whenever young persons aie found willing to join them. _ Lectures have been promised by the followinggentlemen : viz.,— Dr. Ralph, Mr. King, Mr. Catchpob),' The Rev. Mr. Dron, Mr. Woodward;. Mr. Hart, Mr. Marriott, and Mr. Sealyi Other aid is also looked for ; and thus it is hoped that a series of lectures will be delivered through the winter months that will prove both pleasant and useful. The Institute has recertify sustained a loss by the removal to Hobart Town of its respected prrhident, Mr. Justice Chapman. His kind servi-7 ces to the Institute cannot be 'forgotten, and he^ has shown his continued interest in its prosperity by presenting as his pariiug_gift, a valuable elec-f tiical machine. . \ ■ , ~ x The Committee add that they, have sent, a ; special order to England for a copy of the Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Industrial Exhibi-

lion of 1851, \o be kept in tie library of this Institute, not only as a pleasing objectfpr the study pi the present members, lut as a' record of the stateof ar's and .manufactures at that period! ;4t.b May, 185 S. - • /f, * X-

Wellington, May 4, 18 32. Moved by Mr. W. Holmes, seconded by Mr. D. Munn, and unanimously resolved : — That the reports just read be adopted. Several bye laws which had been prepared ' for the government of the committee, but which could not come into operation until they had received the approval of the members, were submitted to the meeting. Moved by the Secretary, seconded- by Mr. R: J. Duncan, and carried unanimously:— That the bye laws just read be confirmed by' the meeting. Moved by the Secretary, seconded by Mr. R. J. Duncan, that fhe following ' be added to the general rules of "the Institute :—: — That two Auditors, not being .Members . qfCommittee, shall bo appointed every half year for the purpose of Auditing the Treasurer's Accounts. , , „ .'•..' That any. Member of Committee absenting ' himself for three successive meeting- nights, without reasonable excuse, shall be struck off the list ; and tlu Committee may proceed to fill up the vacancy thus Caused by electing another " member, to continue in office till -the expiration of 'the term for which the member so struck off was elected. The chairman announced the resignation, by Mr. Norgrove, of the office 'of librarian to ' the Institute, and Mr. ~R r . Lucas was elected in A his stead. „ . . " ,^,y '- ' > m The following is a jlist of -the office bearers I as they now stand :•&-. . -O __^|B

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Dr. To balance brought from last half-year ..£l6l 2 5> „ cash received for use of Hall for Ball. . 3 3 0 „ do. do. from Dr. .Ralph for uso j of Hall for Lectures 2 2 O „ cash received from Building Society for v "use of Hall . . >. ..,.-,. 2 0 0 „ -cash^received from Free ,Presbyterian "/ '-' Chur,ck,for'use of Hall' 2 0 0 " „ cash' receitedv for Member's Subscrip- * tionsr- — y - s? 7 yearly members @ 10s. 6 . . £3 1 3 6 7 7 half yearly do. -.;..'„ ss. 6 . : 21 \S 6 • ••■<•• - 7 do. do. (Ladies and Youths) . . @ 2s. 0 . . 0 17"C 3 members 1 quarter each 3s. 0. . 0 0 0 , > , 20 3 C; „ cash received from his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman (being balance of '- - " £1 given as his year's subscription).*. 0 9 6- ., cash received for catalogues sold 1 18 G ' >v£l9B 18 11 ,-To balance in the Union Bank of- Australia£lol~-ll 10.t cr. v By cash paid for purchase and bind-, v , ingofbooksforLibraryilO 1 0 ' „ remittances to England for, purr i chase of books .*... :'. 53 12 ' 63 2, 11 „ Librarian's salary — 26 weeks @ 10s. . . 13 0 O „ commission to collector, 5 percent, on v amount of subscriptions} received "I- 6 6 „ cash paid for repairs and painting - 9 "19 _ft i» jj >j Fire Insurance on «£so@4s-ct. '2 o^o- „ „ „ for desk for Library OID 0 „ „ „ for Incidental expenses — Printing & advertising. .3 9 8. , Stationery, Postage, &c. 0 9 0 Firewood 0 8 0, Candles 2 9 0 Cleaning" of rooms ....0-4 0' Tin foil for galvanic bat- • tery ..: : . 03 6 -^ — 7 3 8 „ balance carried down. . ., ■ ]()] 11 io £198 18 11 Audited and found correct — • • • Eobekt Lam bert j Audltors Wellington,. May 4, 1852. Assets of the Wellington Athenssum and Mechanics' Institute — Land and Building Library, of 850 volumes Books .ordered from England, and remitted for. tothe value of £53 * Balance of grant of Legislative Council for the purchase of books yet unexpended a £31 0 7^ Cash in the Union Bank of Australia' in addition to the above sum 70 11 $ Amount, due from the New Zealand Society for use of flail .' 0 15 9 ' £102 0 10 Liabilities — Debentures bearing interest'@ 10 percent. per annum -.....* .'£3o 0 O ' Debenture bearing interest @ 5 per cent. - per annum . : , 57 15 5 Half year's interest due on the above. . . . ' 2 18 11 Debenture for amount due to ' Temperance Society ( ." 30,12 4 Amount required to complete fencing and repairs — estimated at , 55 12 O £176 18 8, ' Deduct amount of Debentures 118 7 9 Cash required to be paid £ 58 10 11 J. Woodward, Treasurer.

The Treasurer icr account current with the Wellington Athenjzum-: —