MECHANICS' INSTITUTE MEETING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 529, 11 January 1878, Page 2

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE MEETING.

* A meeting of the subscribers of the Mechanics' Institute was held last evening for the purpose of considering the action of the Committee with reference to the leasing of a piece of land to Mr. Robertson. The chair was occupied by the Vice-President (Mr. Filled), in the unavoidable absence of the President (Mr. Hislop). There were about thirty members present. The Chairman having read the advertisement calling the meeting, some little discussion took place with regard to the wording of the advertisement not being in accordance with the requisition, the Secretary (Mr. Hickoy) explaining that the wording of the requisition was not in accordance with that of the resolution passed by the Committee. The Chairman then explained his action as a member of- the Committee. He said the offer made to them was really so good that the Committee felt that no time should be lost in regard to the matter. From the first it was fully understood by the Committee that the whole matter would have to be submitted to the members. The Committee knew perfectly well that such a course would have to be followed. There had been no intention of carrying out the affair without consulting the members. Mr. Milligan said that his reason for acting promptly in the matter, and signing the requisition, was in consequence of the meeting of the Committee being called for such a time as Christmas eve, and that the business to be brought forward was not stated in the circular ; and that the proceedings did not, therefore, look well. His object was not to oppose the action of the Committee and prevent the leasing of the land : but he had signed the requisition in consequence of the newspaper correspondence upon ihe subject, in order to have the matter brought before the members. He thought the Committee had been going too far.

Tho Chairman explained that although the meeting of the Uoinmiitee w;is called hurriedly, there had been no desire to Jo anything hastily. Ttie oifVr was so goixl that no time was to he lost over the matter, more crpecially as the whole matter had to he brought before a meeting °i : .siiU':oi':hei'.-j for consideration. . Mr. Ijlaeki'iii n said lie had been under Ihe impncsiou that tho action, of the Committee was binding on the subscribers.

Mr. Shrimsla did ndt sec the utility of proceeding with the discussion as it was being conducted. He thought those who had been instrumental in having the meeting called should bring their business forward in a proper manner. Mr. Hardy said in order to bring the matter to a head, he would move that the action of the Committee be ratilied. He did so because lie thought the offer was a good one. and should decidedly be accepted. There could be no doubt that the institution was greatly in need of funds. The granting of the lease would be the means of providing the Institute with funds. Mr. Church seconded the motion. The Chairman pointed out that it was not competent for the meeting to deal with, the matter, as it was necessary for a month's notice to be given before such a resolution could be carried. The Rev. Father Coleman said the Committee had gone beyond its powers with the proposed lease, and this was what the meeting had to consider. He also referred to the registration of the Institute under the Public Libraries Act, which" he alleged had been done in an irregular manner. The Secretary explained that the registration had been carried out in accordance witli the Act. The Rev. Father Coleman again expressed his opinion that the registration had not been done strictly in accordance with the Act. He also referred to the rumor which had been prevalent outside to the effect that a lease of the land had actually been brought to the meeting of the Committee. The Chairman said he had been present at the meeting of the Committee, but had not not seen any suph lease. Some further discussion of an irregular nature then took place, when the Chairman said he could not allow the meeting to go on, as it nothing definite before it. Mr. Milligan then moved, " That this meeting recommends the Committee to rescind the resolution arrived at with reference to the lease to Mr, Robertson." His reason for moving tho motion was that the Committee had acted too hastily in coming to a decision, which had the appearance of-a desire to favor one person, tie had no objection to leasing the land, but thought the lease should be submitted to auction.

Mr. .S|.:i'att st'Ci'inled the motion, and spoke on tins legal sido of the question. Mr. Hardy proposed, as an amendment, " That liiis meeting, so far as it has the power to do, approves of the action of the Committee of Management in reference to the proposed lease.'' Mr. Church seconded the amendment.

Mr. Shrimski thought the Committee had acted very wisely and judiciously in agreeing to the lease. The offer made was an exceedingly good one, and the Committee were deserving of praise for their promptness in availing themselves of the oiler, and preventing Mr. Eobert-

son going elsewhere, which he might easily have done. He was . sure Mr. Robertson could have obtained a better site for a far less sum.' He (the speaker) would be sorry to give half the amount for the lease of the land which Mr. Robertson had offered. The land was of very little value, and the street to which it had a frontage led to nowhere in-parti-cular. He thought they should cordially support the Committee iu their efforts to benefit tire Institute. The Rev. Father Coleman said he was not opposed to leasing the land or to having a smithy erected upon it, if the matter was carried out in a proper manner. He thought the Committee had acted illegally. The Secretary denied that anything illegal had been done. Mr. Blackburn said, as one of those who had signed the requisition, he was perfectly satisfied with the explanation which had been given by the Committee in regard to its action.

Mr. Forrester said it was not a matter of great consequence whether the Committee had acted illegally or not. What they had to consider was whether the proposed lease would or would not bo beneficial to the Institute. He believed that Mr. Hislop, the principal mover in the matter, had been actuated solely by a desire to benefit the Institute, and place it in possession of funds, of which it was at present greatly in want, to send Home for new books.

Mr. Sumpter thought the Committee had acted very wisely, as the offer made was an exceedingly good one. As a general rule, he was in favour of letting all such land by auction, but iu this ease the offer was one of so favourable a nature as not to be let pass. At the same time, he would have preferred seeing the lease made for a shorter period. He thought it might be advisable to insert a clause in the lease whereby the Institute would have the power to enter upon the land before the of the seven years, on giving notice and paying compensation. Messrs. J. T. Evans and A. Kerr thought the term too long, the latter expressing the opinion that within five years the Institute would require the whole of its land. After some further remarks, the amendment moved by Mr. Hardy, in favour of the lease, was put and carried by 23 to 2. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.