MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2402, 27 November 1880, Page 2

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

The annual general meeting of the subscribers of the Timaru Mechanics’ Institute was held- last evening. The meeting commenced in the temporary' premises of the Institute, but so many members put in an appearance that an adjournment to the Barnard street Hall was deemed advisable.

Mr Scott, President, occupied the chair and he was surrounded by the members of the Commitoe and others.

The Secretary, Mr Winter, submitted the annual report and balance-sheet for (lie year ended Oct. 29 last which was as follows:

“ Your Committee have the pleasure to submit their report for the year ended 291 h October, 1880.

They have to report the following: —The total destruction of the building by lire on Friday, the 29th day of October last. By this accident the cash book and vouchers for December, 18/9 were lost. Your Committee have therefore to rely for that month’s payments and total receipts for they r ear upon the Bank cash book. A considerable portion of the books were destroyed by the tiro, and all were more or less injured. The total damage being estimated at ,6210. The amount was agreed to by r the several Insurance Companies —South British, Liverpool London, and Globe’ and Transatlantic. The amount will shortly bo paid over. Your Committee would recommend that this amount he appropriated for the purchase of hooks.

“ At a special meeting of Committee held at Messrs Boss, Sims, and Co.’s oflico on :50th October, His Worship the Mayor of the Borough was requested to communicate with the Government, with a view to obtaining from them a more central site for the erection of the new building. Should such grant be obtained, it will be competent for the members to decide by vote (at a special general meeting; whether or not it be accepted. “ The subscriptions from members have increased considerably, but from the cause above alluded to the exact amount cannot here be stated. “ There have been added to the reading room several papers and periodicals, among which may bo mentioned “The Quarterly lieview.” “The Edinburgh Beview,” “ Spectator,” “Pall Mall Budget,” and Chambers’ Journal.” “ Your Committee have been successful in obtaining a share of the Government grant in aid of public libraries, amounting to nearly £BO, This has been expended in books, now on their way from Britain, in the West Hiding, which left Glasgow 2 llh August. “ The old Hall was let for a period of twelve month at a rental of £l5O per annum, which materially assisted the revenue of the Institute. “ The thanks of the members arc due to those proprietors of papers and periodicals who have placed the Institute on their free list.” The balance-sheet showed the net receipts for the year to be £275 7s Jd, and the net expenditure, £2BB Gs Id. The assets consisted of insurances to the amount of £I.OOO, section £SOO, and books £150; and the liabilities (to Building Society). £305 5s sd. Mr Beilly objected to the third clause of the report. He thought the Committee had exceeded their powers in taking such a step as communicating with Government and that nothing of the kind should have been done without calling a meeting of the subscribers to consider the matter. He moved that, the objectionable paragraph be expunged. Mr *l. S. Gibson seconded the motion and expressed himself in very similar terms.

31. i Jonas moved that the report bo adopted as read. Mr 15race spoke at some length. He was entirely opposed to the change of site. He considered that the Committee had been guilty of an error of judgment in communicating with the Government in the way they had rr site. After " considerable discussion Mr Reilly’s motion was carried by a considerable majority. Mr Jonas’ amendment. that the report be adopted as road being lost. The election of ollicers for the year then followed, and resulted in the return of the following Patron, Air James Scott; president, Mr Jackson ; vicepresident, Mr F. C. Sterieker ; treasurer, Mr M. White ; secretary and librarian, Mr Winter : committee, Messrs, J. S. Gibson, I>. West, J. Shepherd, 11. B. Taylor,’ F. B. Greenup, J. Bruce, C. Bowker, J. H. Sutter, W. Jones, and W. Zicsier. Messrs (.Jordon and Frazer were elected auditors.

The question of site once more came upon the carpet, and Mr Gibson moved committee to at once telegraph to the Postmaster-General, respectfully withdrawing the previous application for a site at° the angle of Sophia and F streets.”

Mr Bruce seconded the motion. The motion, after a great deal of discussion, was ruled out of order, and no more was heard about it. The question of altering rules 4 and and 17 then came uuder discussion.

Buie I has reference to subscriptions, and the jiltcration proposed was that subscribers of less than 12 months should not have the right of voting at general meetings, it was desired to alter rule 17 so as to empower bare majorities instead of two thirds of those present at general meetings to pass motions. Considerable wrangling ensued over these matters and the meeting bo came rather disorderly, Mr Sutter and several others leaving the room. On the motion of Mr Gibson seconded by Mr West it was resolved that the rules as printed be not altered. Mr Wotbey moved a vote of (hanks to the retiring otliccrs, which the chairman put although censured, are offerred a vote of thanks.”

Votes of thanks to proprietors of newspapers and periodicals who had placed the Institute on their free list, and also to the Chairman terminated the meeting.