PATEA INSTITUTE.

Patea Mail, 29 March 1882, Page 4

PATEA INSTITUTE.

NEW SCHEME OP WORKING. THE newly ; elected: Committee desire •to place before Subscribers and the Reading, Public a programme of improvements to be carried out by public co-bpefation. It being manifest that 1 the Institute has been latterly in a languishing; condition* an earnest effortis how .being ..made ; to enlist public assistance, and sympathy for increasing the use and attractions of the Institute, and making it really : worthy of the district. Finances.

The present debt on the building is £250, requiting an annual interest of £25. There is also a current indebtedness of about £6B. The committee are satisfied, that the assets of 1 the Institute would, if'realised, exceed the amount of liabilities; and while leaving the debt' oh building untouched at present, it is decided to' Wipe off the current liability of. £6B by obtaining a bank overdraft secured on the joint and several undertaking of the committee. The income is small and uncertain at present, but is capable of a large increase, as the committee believe; , That increase appears obtainable, i.firstly, by popularising the Institute so as to raise the number‘of Subscribers fropa about 75 to 150, and ■probably' much more ; secondly, by public entertainments and lectures to be given in aid; of Institute funds ; 1 and thirdly by donations .and; life-memberships. The committee estimate that from these several sources a total income of £2OOJn the first year may be assured. They are’ confident that, with generous co-operation- and nb undue tax on public sympathy, the first year’s income may Approach, £3OO, The committee’s expenditure ; will, however, be based on the safe estimate 6f E £2oo as the first year’s revenue. . Proposed Expenditure—New Books, ; The Committee ; estimate that £IOO will cover all current expenses and contingencies (apart from new books), and perhaps pay off part of the - overdraft. 'This willleave about £IOO available for the purchase of new books during the current year.’"‘An inane; diafe. selection ;of '■ new and desirable I books will be made ; and in order that the attractions of the Library may be increased without delay, .a* portion of the fjpst: batch: of new literature jr ill tlje'Aus--tralian and placed in the catalogue for ,ea|ly issne-|o-"caembers. Another Sfid£ more extensive selection of new. bopte vyill be ’ obtained England, by thb ! best means of selection available to the committee. Other batches of new books will be procured from time to time ; and the committee will in this matter aim at a policy of judicious liberality in keeping the - Library supplied with tbe most attractive arid useful literature of, the- 1 day 5 All tastes -will be : consulted, within reasonable limits as to cost.' 'All the best Magazines • will .be.kept available to, readers.* The Library. htis the ’committee hope thereby to secure regularity of attendancef comtßbus ’attention to Subscribers’ wants, besides orderly cleanliness within tpe building. The \ subscription Will be i£il| per'annum, 1 : as before ;/payabie yearly, half-yearly, or quarterly in advance. This

payment includes all conveniences. of the . Institute. The, Librarian will be in attend-: ance on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 3 to 6 o’clock afternoons, and 7 to 9.30 evenings. ‘'To 'ensure system and order in the issue of books, it will be necessary to enforce finbs for keeping books beyond the specified time for reading. The prompt return of books being thus secured, there will be great convenience in being,able to rely on particular books being available to other .. readers' within’d reasonable number of days, while new : books cannot, be monopolised by keeping them in. few hands, to the detriment ■ of other readers. Any restraint imposed.on, ■> individuals by this regulation will be amply compensated by greater convenience to the majority. ! ; ‘ The Beading Boom. ’This cannot be kept open free to the public/after.March Ist, there beingno longer a subsidy from Government.; But it is intended to popularise the Reading Room by fixing the subscription at a nominal sum equal to about a penny a week ; namely 5s . a year 1 in advance, 2s 6d half-yearly, or Is - a month, this last rate being useful to visitors. : Any Member may introduce a friend for one week, by entering, name in visitor’s book. Additional papers from the chief centres cf population in these colonies will be procured; and all useful papers will be filed with regularity. ' The Reading Room will be increased in ? comfoj;t, and; well lighted. Sets of chess and'drafts will be kept for member’s enjoyment Winter fifes will be well attended to, so that the Reading Eboni may be a really pleasant resort. ' ;

Family'' Tickets—LifeMembers. Tickets available for families will be issued : ’ namely, a subscription of £2 ’ will ; entitleto books &c. equal to three memberships. Life members ; will be so created on payment of £lO or over as a donation; to the Institute. , Donations of ; books will ; be • acknowledged by the committee with a vote of thanks in each case, and a grateful mention at mewl Ruteciibersjoining now will be charged for only half the current quarter., c: j - UDectnres-SDeMtes; The committee contemplate arranging for scientific and other attractive lectures to be given in aid of the Institute funds. Members.' will be entitled to admission - for- a nominal sum, and the public.at a higher rate. It is hoped <fia| .be added tofhe. Institute, while some other hall’-can be used iii the ’meantime. Debates will also, be promoted occasionally, inepnnee- / tion with the Institute ; and ladies who may choose to attend as listeners (or speakers) will find debates' both aidusihg and enter-: : tabling, while 1 their presence .wHT'Jie a stimulus. H. F, Chbistie,' President. ; • H.i E* P-r Adams, Treasurer. j. A, Wilkinson, Secretary. ’ ■ G. D. Hameeton] 6. Taplin (Membe sof ... J. W. Bbi&ht ( Committee. ; e.j .SZ "Free Advertisement.]