OTAKI PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Otaki Mail, 27 January 1919, Page 3

OTAKI PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ANNUAL MEETING. Tiro annual meeting of subscribers to the Otaki Public Library was held at the reading-room on Saturday evening last, when there were present: Mrs Swabey, Rev. Petrie (in the chair), Messrs AV. B. Smith, It. Booth, I'. Penn, and Bov. H. AVhitc. The minutes of the last annual meeting, and also of a special general meeting, were read and confirmed. The Chairman reported that the balance-sheet had been duly prepared and audited and found correct, but, unfortunately, a copy was not available for the meeting. However, Rev. Petrie read a financial statement, which was practically the same as the official balance-sheet, except that it was certified to as correct. The statement showed that-the year commenced with a debit balance of £99 6s 9d, and closed with a deficit of £9l 6s lid; thus they had a credit of nearly £S on thci year’s working. The main items of income were: Donations received, £5 16s fid; members’ subscriptions, £23 4s 6d; subsidy from Town Board and County Council, £l3 2s 6d.‘ Expenditure: Librarian, £l2 Os lOd; bank interest, £5 10s; new- books, £o Os lid. Other items of expenditure were Jbr fuel, lighting, insurance, . etc. The Chairman explained that the Government subsidy had not been forthcoming last year, which pressed hard on their finances; however, they had received an extra subsidy from j 1 the Town Board, and the public ha* j ' assisted with donations also. [ 1 The financial position was con- . s sidered satisfactory by the" meeting, I and the balance-sheet was adopted, j subject to being according to audited document. ‘ The Librarian (Mr J. R. Ingram) presented a report, .in which lie stat- a cd that there were now some 3500 - volumes in the library. Some of . the ] books would bo better for hospital | treatment, and he offered to repair | same if material were provided. Re- 4 feronce was made to the loss to the j library through the death of Mrs O. ■ v J. D’Atli, a former member of the committec, and sympathy expressed with her relatives. Mr Ingram suggested \ that the committee secure some more p newspapers and illustrated journals ; .. for the reading-room. Such would be appreciated by patrons of the inslitu- j tion. He also made suggestions re j " the purchase of new books, also re j - lighting, etc. £ The election of officers was then \ proceeded with, and resulted as fol- a; lows: —Chairman, Rev. G. F. Petrie, M.A. (rc-clccted); secretary, Mr J. R. Ingram (re-elected); committee, Mes- | . dames Swabey and Cook, Miss j ~ O’Rourke, Messrs AV. B. Smith, b ® Booth, and Frank Penn; hon. auditor, ~ Mr H. AVitehell. ( ■ Reference was made to the excellent work done during the past year, through a trying period, by the Rev. G. F. Petrie as chairman, and ho was " heartily thanked for his services. ! s A hearty vote of thanks was also J accorded Mr H. AVitehell for acting j as auditor. i Mrs Swabey, Rev. Petrie and Mr , AV. B. Smith were elected a commit- j tec to purchase new books during the 1 year. 1