PATEA INSTITUTE.

Patea Mail, 30 March 1882, Page 4

PATEA INSTITUTE.

NEW SCHEME OP WORKING.

THE newly elected Committee desire, to place .‘before Subscribers and the Reading Public a jirogfEimme 'of improvements to be toafried oitt by public co-operationi' It being .manifest that the Institute has been latterly in languishing condition, an earnest;effort#! 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. •' ;j ‘ 3 | . ! Pinanbes. The preseht’debt on the building is £250, requiring-an 'annual interest of £25. f 'There is| also a ; current about £6Bi , The ..committee are .that jfche assetsjof. .the Institute would, if realised;,exceed the; amount of liabilities; and while leaving the aCbt 'oil building untouched! at present, it is decided to wipe off the current liability of I £6B.;by ‘obtaining a bank overdraft sefcured on the jpint. and several undertaking of the committee.. r The income is small and . uncertain at "present, but, is capable of a large ’ increase^'as‘ the "committee believe. That increase appears obtainable, firstly, ‘' by popularising the Institute so as tb raise the number of. Subcribers from about 75 to 155, .aid probably much more; secondly,, by public entertainments and lectures to be given in aid' of Institute funds; and thirdly by donations ‘ and life-memberships. 1 ; The committee estimate that from these several sources a ; total income of £2OO in the; first year .may. be assured. They .are confident tiiat. with generous co-operation and no undue tax on public sympathy, the first year’s income may approach £300.’ The committee’s expenditure will, 'however,- be based off the safe estimate of £2OO as the i first yearis revenue; r

Proposed Expenditure—New Books.

•The Committee estimate that £IOO will cover all current expenses and contingencies (apart part of the overdraft. This will leave about £IOO available;- for the purchase of new bboks during the current year. An immediate selection I 'of new and desirable books will be made; and in order that the attractions of ; the Library may be increased with-' out delay, a portion of the first batch of now literature will be purchased within the Australian colonics, and placed in .the catalogue for early issue to members. Another and 'more extensive selection of new books will be obtained from ..England, by the best means of selection available to the committee. Other batches of .new books will be procured from time to,time; and the committee,will hi this matter aim at a' policy of judicious liberality in keeping the Library supplied wjth the most attractive and useful literature of the' day - 1 All tastes will be consulted, within reasonable.limits aS dQ .cos L.. All the best Magazines will be kept available to readers. j ; The Library. - ' ; A new Librarian has been appointed, and tlie committee hope thereby to secure regu-' ilarity of attendance, courteous attention to Subscribers’ wants, besides orderly cleanliness within the' building,;, The .subscription will be £1 per annum, as - before; payable yearly, halt-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. iiTo ensure system and order in the issue of books, it. will be necessary .to enforce fines 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 1 pn particular books being available to other readers within; a 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 * . --f- A J/\ i\ €4 - l 'f : I ■’^Theßeadingßoom. " This cannot ; be kept open 'free to' the * public after Marchj .lst, there 'being no longer a subsidy from (Government. , But,it. is in*,. tended .to popularise the Reading Room by, fixing ’ the ! subscription ‘at a‘nominal sum equal to about a penny a week ; namely 5s a year 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 of population in these colonies will be procured; and all useful papers will be. filed with regu-i larity,' The ’Reading Room will be increased, in comfort,'and well lighted. Sets of chess ! and drafts will .be-kept.for< member’s enjoyment.- -Winterso that the Reading /Room may .be Really pleasant resort. ‘ ; ... v , ... ; ; Family, .Tickets—Life Members. ( i , i;i Tickets available .for . families, tvfll .be to issued ; namely, a .subscription of £2 will entitle to books &el‘eqbal to three member- % ships. ■ Life - members will be** so created on ■payment of£ 1 Oor overms a - donation to the : f Institute. Donations :■ of.books; willi'the; :, acknowledged' by the committee with a vote of thanks in each case, and.a, grateful mention -at-the annual meeting; ~~All new‘'Subsmbers " joining now will.be charged fpr.only,hal|ihm-. current qikrierit 3: 1 ■ . O jLectures—Rebates,|. ■ The committee contemplate arranging for scientific and other attractive lectures to be given in aid of the Institute funds. Members will /be ..entitled to admisMohTbr bmbminal ' sum, and■ -the,•,i^ibliq- t ßt ahlgh£i\|t\is. hoped that a suitable Lecture Room may soon be added' to thp spme-pthei’|; hall can he' used in the meantime. Rebates will alsp be promoted,pccasipnally,in,ponn^c-| tion with the Institute ; and ladies who may* choose to attends bsteners . (or speakers) will find debates both amusing and entertaining, while their presence will be a Stimulus., . M- ! H. F. Christie, President. ? H. E. P. Adams, Treasurer. ' of d! Hameeton ] i ; v. (■ Membe s of J. W. Bright f Committee.- • 1 E. HOUGHTOV. } ’Free Advertisement.), ■■■ ■■■Vv.'y ’ -