PATEA INSTITUTE.

Patea Mail, 11 April 1882, Page 4

PATEA INSTITUTE.

NEW SCHEME OF WORKING.

THE newly elected. Committee desire to place' before Subscribers and the Reading Public a programme’ of improvements to be carried-onk by public co-operation. It being 'tnanifest that the.lnstitutehas been latterly.in a languishing .condition, an earnest.,effort is now being made to enlist public assistance and sympathy for increasing'the use and attractions'of the Institute, 1 arid making it really; worthy of the district. 1 : -

• ;-. ; ; ; finances. v The' present debt on the building is £250, requiring an .annual interest of £25. There is also,a current indebtedness of about £6B. The committee are satisfied that the assets of the" Institute would, if realised, exceed the amount of liabilities ; and while leaving the debt bn 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 preserit, but is capable, of a large increase;‘as the committee believe. That increase appears i obtainable, firstly, by popularising the- -Institut©* so as-to-raise”ihe number of : Sub-ciibers from about 75 torlSO, arid ~ probably much : .more,.; secondly, by ■public entertainments ami lectures .to be given, in aid of Institute. funds ; and thirdly by donations and life-memberships. The committee estimate that from these several sources, a total income of £2OO in the ' first year may be assured. ’ They are confident that, with genereus 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 rasithe first, year’s revenue.

Proposed Expenditure—New Books.

The Committee estimate that £IOO will cover all current expenses and contingencies, (apart from - new'books),an d perhapspay off part of the overdraft. This will leave about £IOO Ifor the purchase ■ of" new books during the current year. An immediate selection of ; new and desirable books wiil r be made ; and in order that the attractioxxs of tlie-X/ibrary may be increased witliout delay, a, portion,of the first batch of new literature will be purchased within the Australian colonies, and placed in the catalogue for early issue to member’s. 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 the Library .supplied with the riiost attractive and useful literature of the day. Ad- tastes will be consulted, within reasonable limits as to cost. All the best Magazines will be kept available to readers. . . ; . . . The 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 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. To 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 bn 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 bn 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 Governments ’ 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 ss! a year in advance, 2s 6d ; half-yearly, or Is a month, this last rate being useful to visitors, ag Any Member maylrittqdnce a frien<| for one week, by entering name Jn visitor’s book. * Additional papers from, the chief centres cf population in these colonies will be procured; arid all: useful papers will be filed with regu- j larity. The' Reading Room will be increased ~ in comfort, and well lighted, Sets of chess and drafts will, be, kept for member’s enjoyment. Winter fires will be well attended to ( so that the Reading Room may be a really pleasant resort. : ■’ : ' Family Tickets—Life Members, Tickets, available for families will beissued ; narriely,, a subscription of £2 will entitle to books &c. equal to'three member*, ships. 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 w T ith a vote of thanks in eaeh at tlie annual meeting. All new Subscribers joining now will be charged for only half the current quarter. - ‘ * Lectures—Debates. 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 that a suitable Lecture Roommay soon; ■- be added to the Institute, hvhxle sbme; other hall can be Used in the meantime. Debates will also be promoted occasionally, in connection with the Institute ; and ladieswlio may choose to attend; as listeners (or speakers) will find • debates both amusing - and carter- :. taining, while their presence will -be a stimulus. . H. F. Christie, President. H. B. & Adams, -Treasurer. J. A. Wilkinson, Secretary. G. D. Hamektonl S. Taplin . ! ( Membeis'of j. w. Bright j Committee. E. Houghton } Free Advertisement.]. ; ' ’ ;