Gisborne Library.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 996, 8 November 1881, Page 2

Gisborne Library.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the-above institution was held in the Reading Room last Saturday evening. About 15 members were present. Mr. H. Reid was voted to the chair, and called the Secretary, Mr. Woon, to read the Committee’s Report for the past year. The report is too long for our space, but its perusal shows that for the past nine months the services of a paid Librarian have been dispensed with, from the necessity which an enforced economy always impels ; and Mr. Woon has gratuitously, undertaken the duties appertaining to the office, to the end of ihe financial year. The Committee are pleased to find that “ their efforts to afford ” (? provide) “ literary pabulum for the public have “ not been altogether in vain.” Thanks are accorded to the Government for the supply of Hansard and Parliamentary papers. An application to the Secretary for Crown Lands, resulted in a town section adjoining the Masonic Hotel, being placed at the disposal of the Library Committee. An order for a supply of £5O worth of books has been forwarded to London, and they may be expected to arrive here in about a month hence. Through the absence of funds to pay for the books, on arrival, an appeal is made “to the public, and any one “ wishing this and kindred institutions “ success, to come forward and con- “ tribute towards the payment of the “ same.” The Committee is sorry to report that the funds are so low, and that the Library is in debt; and it is hoped now that the chief item of expense is lighting, that by this time next year, a more favorable report will be presented. The report concludes with an expression of opinion that the time has arrived for the erection of a Mechanics’ Institute in the town ; but deplores the coldness exhibited by those to whom appeals for assistance have been made. Mr. Featon read the Balance Sheets for the year ending October 31st, including an account of the late Exhibition receipts and expenditure; and from all sources it appears that the Treasurer has a balance of £l3 16s 5d to credit, including the profit made on the Exhibition itself of £lO 16s lid.

The meeting then proceeded to elect a Committee for the ensuing year. Nine candidates were nominated, and on the ballot being taken, the following gentlemen were declared elected, viz : — Messrs Featon, Stubbs, File, Townley, R. H. Fisher, D. Johnson, and Sigley. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring Committee, also to Mr. Woon, who had devoted much of his time to the institution as Hon. Secretary. The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.