PATEA INSTITUTE.

Patea Mail, 1 April 1882, Page 4

PATEA INSTITUTE.

NEW= SCHEME GF WORKING.

THE, .newly elected• Committee desire to place before Subscribers and the Reading Public a programme of improvements to be carried put by: public co-operation. ; It being manifest that' the institute has’been latterly in a languishing 1 'condition,* ian earnest effort is now being made 'to enlist public assistance andii sympathy, for increasing the I use and attractions of : the Institute; and mating it really worthy of the district. . .. <

Finances. The present debt on the ; building is £250, requiring an annual interest of £25. There is also a current indebtedness of about £GB. The committee .are satisfied that the assets of the Institute would, if realised, exceed the amount of liabilities ; and while’leaving the debt on 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 i' obtainable, : '• popularising;.the; Institute : so as to raise the number of Sub cribers from about 75 to 15 J, and probably much more; secondly, by public entertainments; and lectures to bg given in. aid of Institute funds ;, and thirdly by donations and life-memberships. / The committee estimate that from these several sources a dotal income of £2OO in the first year 1 may be assured. They arc confident that, -with generous co-operation and no 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 of £2OO as the first year’s revenue. . Proposed Expenditure—New Books, The Committee estimate that £IOO will cover, all current expenses and- contingencies (ap'art from'“new bookstand perhaps pay off part of the overdraft. -This, will leave about £IOO available for thd ’purchase of new books during the current year. An imme-' diate selection of desirable; bboks \rillLb Inadd] and tin order* that the'*attractions of the Library may be increased without delay, a portion of thfe first,;.batch of dew literature will be purchased within the Australian colonies, arid* 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 in this matter aim at a policy of judicious liberality' in ■ keeping, Library’ .supplied with the most attractive and useful literature of . the day iAll tastes will be consulted, within reasonable limits as to cost. All the best Magazines wi11... be kept available to readers. The 1 Library. A new Librarian has been appointed,.and the committee hope thereby to : secure regularity of attendance, courteous attention to Subscribers’ wants, besides orderly cleanliness within the building. The- subscription 5 will be £1 per annum, as. before; payable yearly, half-yearly, or ’ quarterly in advance. ‘ This

payment, includes all conveniences of the Institute. The Librarian will be in attendance on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 3 to 6 o'clock afternoons, and 7 to - 9.30 evenings. r " To ensure system and order in the'issue of Looks, it will be - necessary to enforce' ifines 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 \vithm a reasohable number of days, while new books'cannOtl 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 Reading Room. This cannot , be kept open free to the public after March Ist, there being no 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 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 5 , 1 ; by ‘entering name in visitor’s hook. Additional papers from the ; chief centres cf population in these colonies will be procured ; and'all uieful be; filed with regu- . larity. The Reading Room will be increased in comfort, and well lighted., Sets of chess and drafts will be 5 kept for member’s enjoyment;' Winter fires will he well attended to, so that'the Reading Hoorn may he a really pleasant resort. i r Family Tickets—Life Members. Tickets available for families Trill he issued;; namely, a subscription of £2 will entitle to. books &c.- equal to three memberships. Life members will be so created on payment of £lO or over as a donation to the Institute. Donaticiis of books will be acknowledged by the committee with a of thanks in each case, and,a grateful,mentiorT' at the annual meeting. All new Subscribers joining nory will be chained for’only half the current quarter. - c Lectures—Debates.| \ a v The Committee Wnteinplate arranging for scientific and other attractive lectures to he given iii’ aid of the Institute funds. Members will Le entitled to admission for a nominal siim, l and the public at a'higher rate. ' It Is,, hoped that a suitable Lecture Room may soon be added to the Institute, while some other hall can be used in the meantime. Debates will also be prompted Occasionally, in connection with the Institute ; and ladies who may choose to attend: as listeners < (or speakers) will find debates both amusing and entertaining, while their .presence, will be a stimulus. H. F. Cheistie, President. H. E. P. Adams,. Treasurer. ■ J. A., Wilkinson, Secretary, 5 G. d I Hameeton ]‘, S;,: Taplin . (Membe.s of J.’ W. Height T Committee. E. Houghton Free, Advertisement.] ~: ;