INVERCARGILL ATHENAEUM.

Southland Times, Issue 1526, 19 January 1872, Page 3

INVERCARGILL ATHENAEUM.

m The annnal meeting of the members of the Invercargill Athenaeum was held at the Council Hall in Kelvin street on "Wednesday evening last. The*whole of the members of the committee were present, but the muster of the subscribers -was, small. This may be partially explained Jby the fact that another ap patently more attractive meeting was "being held in the town at the same time. It was, however.Tesoived to proceed with .the business, and Mr T. M. Macdonald having: taken the chair, the following report was read by the Secretary, and on | the motion of Mr Perkins, seconded by j Mr/Fredric, was adopted -. — During the past year steps were taken by the committee to get the institution incorporated by ordinance of the Provincial Council of Otago, j which object was successfully accomplished at the last session of Council. This measure haß placed' the institution on a better footing, enabling it to deal with and hold property cornin**- into' its possession. Tbe committee has also succeeded in obtaining a grant from the Government of a building site at the corner of Dee and Esk streets, which must ultimately become of great value to the institution ; tbey have also succeeded in getting about 407 acres of the 1500 seres of land in Campbelltown Hundreds, previously reserved for the purposes of an Athenaeum by the Provincial Council of Southland, finally reserved by the Provincial Council of Otago as an endowment for this institution. Your committee recommend that authority be given to their successors to take steps to lease the above reserves, which tney anticipate -wiU -yield a fair revenue. Application was made to the Provincial Cfovernment for a grant of money to assist in the erection of a building, but unfortunately the Government could not then grant aid for this purpose ; the rooms, however, at present occupied have been granted by the Government free of rent. Tour committee beg to report that the nucleus of a library has been formed, consisting of 203 works, which they are happy to say is largely taken advantage of by the members. Donations in cash and books have been received from a few members and others for the library. 135 of the •hove works were received from the Education Board, and a sum of £10 lies in the Board's hands, for which books to the value of £20 are expected soon. Mr Gflmour was appointed interim treasurer by tbe committee in August last in the room of Mr Dickinson, resigned. A statement of receipts and expenditure for the year is attached hereto, showing a balance in the treasurer's hands of £52, which, taking into account subscriptions renewable during the year, will leave an estimated deficiency of £60 at close of financial year, riz., 28th August, 1872 Measures will therefore require to be adopted to augment tbe revenue to enable tbe institution to be carried on as hitherto. Tour committee found it necessary to obtain the services of a more competent attendant when the library was opened than was formerly employed, and tbis, together with the expenditure in fitting up tha new rooms, accounts to a considerable extent for the anticipated deficiency. The principal cause, however, of anxiety to the committee, is the fact that although the institution offers more advantages than formerly, its membership has not increased, but rather the -reverse. The institution is indebted to the Hon. F. Dillon Bell, His Honor Judge Chapman, and Captain Greig, for lectures delivered, and to various ladies and gentlemen who assisted at entertainments on behalf of the funds of the institution. Your committee recommend that the -General Rules be amended, so as to provide for the admission of life members. Before proceeding to theelection ofacommittee for the current year, Mr Perkins, commenting on the paucity of attendance by the members, suggested that as the report recommended an alteration of one of the rules, it was perhaps advisable that the meeting should be adjourned to secure a larger attendance. Personally (he said) he would prefer to go on, but thought it would be well to take the sense of the j meeting on the question of adjournment. He therefore moved an adjournment until that' day week. Mr M'Ewan seconded the motion, and Mr G-ilmour supported the same. Messrs Lumsden and Fredric were opposed to adjournment, and the motion having been put was lost on the voices. The election of the committee by ballot gave the following result, namely, Messrs M'Ewan, Lumsden, Jaggers, Perkins, Macdonald, Gilmour, Fredricy Meikle, and Morrison, of whom Mr T. M. Macdonald was elected president, Mr Gilmour treasurer, and Mr Perkins secretary. The thanks of the late committee and of the members of the institution were most warmly accorded to Mr Wm. Henderson, the late hon. secretary (who had declined reelection), ana a very high tribute was paid to the energy, zeal, and efficiency; with which the duties of the office had been discharged during his retention. Mr Lumsden proposed the amendment oz Bole IX. relative to life membership by the addition of the following words : — ".That a donation of ten pounds constitute ' Life Membership ;'" which was seconded by Mr Jaggers, and carried. The business -of the annual meeting h*ving terminated by this resolution, the meeting resolved itself into a special meSttng" ibr . _onsider the best means of dealing with the reserves or endowments

of tbe institution. These, it was stated, consist of a section in town situate at the corner of Dee and Esk-streets, and some 500 acres of pastoral land in the Camphelltown hundred. On the motion of Mr M'Ewan, seconded by Mr Perkins, the following resolution was passed: — " That iv the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to grantpowerin terms of section 2 of the Invercargill Athenaeum Ordinance, lh7l, to the committee of management to lease on such terms and conditions as they may consider expedient all or any portion of the reserves set apart for or belonging to the institution, and this meeting hereby authorise and empower , the said committee of management to do j so. The meeting then terminated by a I vote of thanks to the chairman.