INVERCARGILL ATHENAEUM.

Southland Times, Issue 1537, 13 February 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)

INVERCARGILL ATHENAEUM.

The annual meeting of the members of the Invercargill Atbenjeum was held at the Council Hall in Kelvin street on "Wednesday evening, 17th ult. The whole of the members of the committee were present, but the muster of the subscribers was small. This may be partially explained by the fact that another apparently more attractive meeting was being held in the town at the same time. It was, however, resclved to proceed with the business, and Mr T. M. Macdonald having taken the chair, the following report was read by the Secretary, and on tne motion of Mr Perkins, seconded by Mr Eredric, 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, which object was successfully accomplished at the last session of Council. This measure has placed the institution on a better footing, enabling it to deal with and hold property coming into its possession. The committee has also succeeded in obtaining a grant from the Government of a huilding site at the corner of Dee and Esk streets, which must ultimately become of great value to the institution ; they have also succeeded in getting about 407 acres of the 1500 ceres of land in Campbelltown Hundreds, previously reserved for the purposes of an Athenseum 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 they anticipate will yield a fair revenue. Application was made to the Provincial Government lor 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. Tout 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 above 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 Gilmour was appointed interim treasurer by the 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, viz., 28th August, 1872. Measures will therefore require to be adopted to augment the revenue to enable the institution to be carried on as hitherto. Your committee found it necessary to obtain the services of a more competent attendant when the library was opened than was formerly employed, and this, together with the expenditure in fitting up the new rooms, accounts to a considerable extent for the anticipated deficiency. The principal cause, however, of anxiety to the committee, is the fact that althoueh 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 Bules be amended, so as to provide for the admission of life members. Before proceeding totheelection 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 meeting on the question of adjournment. He therefore moved an adjournment until that day week. Mr M'Ewan seconded the motion, and Mr Gilmour supported the same. Messrs Lumsden and Eredric •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, Fredric, Meikle, and Morrison, of whom Mr T. M. Maedonald 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 W~m. Henderson, the late hon. secretary (who had declined reelection), and 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 of Eule IX. relative to life membership by the addition of the following words : — " That a donation of ten pounds constitute ' Life Membership ;'" which was Beconded by Mr Jaggers, and carried. The business of the annual meeting having terminated by this resolution, the meeting resolved itself into a special meeting to consider the best means of dealing with the reserves or endowments of the institution. These, it was satated consist of a section in town situate t the, corner of Dee and Esk-streets, and some 500 acres of pastoral land in the Campbelltown hundred. On the motion of Mr M'Ewan, seconded by Mr Perkins, the following resolution was passed : — " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to grant power in terms of section 2 ofthe Invercargill Athenasum Ordinance, 1871, to the committee of management to lease on such terms and conditions as they may consider expedient ail or any portion ofthe reserves set apart for or belonging to the institution, and this meeting hereby authorise and empower the said committee of management to do so. The meeting then terminated by a vote of thanks to the chairman.