MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2717, 3 December 1881, Page 2

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

The general annual meeting of the members of the Timaru Mechanics’ Institute was held in the reading room last evening, Mr John Jackson, occupying the chair. There was a good attendance of members. The minutes of the last general meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman then read the report of the retiring Committee and balance sheet, printed copies of which were distributed. The Committee in their report congratulated the members upon the completion of the new, handsome and commodious premises, the cost of which (exclusive of furniture) was stated to be £1313 2s. The power obtained by special Act last session to lease the ground at the back was referred to as affording a grand opportunity for the formation of a public hall company. During the year £l9O worth of new books had been received, the total number now in the library being 3000. There were 55 papers and periodicals on the table of the reading room. The ordinary revenue it was pointed out was totally inadequate to meet ordinary expenditure, which could not be cut down to less than £350 per annum. The Committee recommended that an active canvass be made to procure new subscribers. The new building, books, and furniture were insured for £2OOO at a cost of £l2 10s per annum. The balance sheet showed that £1960 was received from insurances on the fire, and £142 14s 6d from members' subscriptions during tbe year. Thera was a balance in the Bank of £205, against which was to be set immediate liabilities of £209, and a standing debt to the Building Society of £252. As the Committee recommended that a canvass of the town be made for subscriptions, they were asked if they had done anything in that way themselves. One of them said he had done a little, and urged in excuse that more had not been done, that the Committee had had a great deal of other work to do. Mr Walcot and Mr Duval were sure that an energetic and methodical canvass would bring in a large increase of subscribers. The latter believed three or four hundred members could be got ia a week.

Mr Greenup said people promised readily enough to become subscribers bat they never came to the Institution to join. Mr Fraser, referring to a clause of the report, said the time had gone by for making use of the spare ground as a site for a public hall. The alterations about to be made to the Theatre were such as would render a second large hall unnecessary for a long time. There was, however, a good room in the Institute now, that should be furnished and it could no doubt be often let. This room, the report stated, would seat 120 persons. After some further discussion of the canvassing suggestion the adoption of the report was moved by Mr Reid, seconded by Mr Fraser, and carried. The following were elected office bearers for the ensuing year Patron, Mr John Jackson; President, Mr M. White; Vice-President, Mr D. West; Treasurer, Mr J. M. Shepherd, Committee of Management—Messrs Reid, Walcot, Scott, Gordon, Tennent, Greenup, Mackay, Jones, Jameson, and Gibson, Secretary and Librarian, Mr H. T. Read ; Auditors, Messrs Mourant and W. M. Sims. Several members advocated increasing the facilities for using the library to members, by extending the hours of opening, and Mr Reid proposed that it be a direction to the incoming commitee to open the library three afternoons a week from 2 to 6 p.m. The Chairman said this would involve new financial arrangements with the Librarian, and it was a question whether it could be afforded.

Other members believed the expense would be recouped with interest. No formal decision was come to by the meeting on this subject. Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing officers, and to the proprietors of newspapers (13 in number) who supplied copies free of charge. The meeting then terminated.