GERALDINE LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1298, 3 February 1885, Page 3

GERALDINE LITERARY INSTITUTE.

COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting of the Committee of the above Institute was held on Friday evening. There were present the Rev. Geo, Barclay, Patron, in the chair, Rev. Jas. Preston, Dr Fish, and Messrs T. Hughes, E. J. S. Eckford, J. Cunningham, T. Hardcastle, W. Willoughby, J. Satterthwaite, W. G. Westropp, and the Secretary, Mr E. Hardcastle. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE, Outward correspondence was read and approved. The only inward correspondence was a letter from Mr W. Shiors, embodying * complaint against the Librarian. -It was resolved : “ That the Secretary acknowledge receipt of Mr Skiers’ letter, and inform him that the Committee do not consider it their duty to interfere in the matter referred to.” MISCELLANEOUS, The Secretary read the Committee’s report to be submitted to the annual meeting, which was approved. It was resolved that Mr Eckford arrange with Mr R. H. Posllethwaito to communicate with Mr W. Postlethwaite in reference to the donation of £6 which was promised to the School Committee, the Committee having decided at the time to forgo the donation if it were given to the Institute instead. Mr Cunningham moved, Mr Eckford seconded, and it was carried—“ That the sum of one and a-half guineas be voted to the Secretary for the extra trouble taken in connnection with the catalogue.” Mr Eckford moved, Mr Cunningham seconded, and it was carried—“ That the Librarian be given a bonus of two guineas.” Accounts to the amount of £l2 17s Id were presented, and it was resolved—- “ That .the several accounts presented be passed for payment as soon a* the funds will admit.” A discussion ensued as to whether members were eligible for election to the Committee whose subscriptions were in arrears. At the annual meeting in 1883 a resolution was passed to the effect that the election of office-bearers be confined to those who had paid up to the end of the previous year. It was resolved that the present election be ruled by the above resolution. ANNUAL MEETING. At the annual meeting all were present who were at the Committee meeting, and Mr J. Muodell The Rev. Geo. Barclay occupied the chair. The minutes of last annual meeting were read and confirmed. The following is the report of the outgoing Committee for the past year : “ Geraldine, January 31,1884. “Gentlemen,—Your Committee have the pleasure to lay before you their report and balance-sheet for the past year. “ The receipts for the year—including the Government subsidy of £22 Is, and donations to the amount of £l7 10s—are £74 7s 7d, to which is to be added the balance from last year, £l9 9s 4 ), making a total of £94 16a lid. The expenditure for the year has been £B4 10s 41, leaving a credit balance of £lO 6s 7d, The balance-sheet, duly audited by Mr E. J. S, Eckford, is on the table before you. There are a number of outstanding subscriptions, amounting to about £B, which, if paid up, with the regular subscriptions and the subsidy to be received from Government, would place the Institute in a fair position. “The principal business transacted by your Committee during the year had to do with the following subjects : “ New Books —Books to the value of £4O were obtained from Messrs Bell and Bradfute, Edinburgh, arrvingin November last, They are strongly and suitably bound, and on the whole give satisfaction to the supscribers. “Smoking-Room—A proposition to establish a smoking room fell through, owing to the lack of interest displayed in the scheme by the public. Concession in the Rate for Newspapers. —Through the kindness of the proprietors of several newspapers who supply papers gratis or at reduced rates, a considerable saving in the outlay for newspapers has been effected. Copies of the Geraldine Guardian, South Canterbury Times, Manawatu Standard, and Watchman are supplied free, the Timaru Herald, Lyttelton Times, Town and Country Journal, Australasian, and Sketcher are supplied at half price. Entertainments in Aid of Funds—ln order to augment the funds of the Institute, an effort was made to organise a series of popular entertainments. It is to be regretted that the attempt was unsuccessful. “ Donations—The Institute is indebted to the generosity of the Hon. J. B. A. Acland and W. Postlethwaite, Esq., late M.H.R. for Geraldine, for liberal donations to the funds of the Institute, The former gentleman gave the sum of £l2 10s, and the latter £5. These very welcome additions to the funds entitle the donors to the thanks of the members of the Institute. “Resignation of Secretary—Mr E. J. S. Eckfcrd, who for many years has rendered valuable services to the Institute as Secretary, was compelled in November last, owing to lack of time, to resign the position, to which Mr E. Hardcastle was appointed. “Catalogue—A complete catalogue of the whole of the works in the library has lately been compiled and printed, copies of which will be eo'd to subsciibers at a small charge. “ It will be the duty of this meeting in accordance with the rules of the Institute, to elect officers for the year in the room of those who retire,” The Rev, J. Preston moved—“ That the report as read be adopted,” Mr Waite seconded the motion and it was carried. The Rev. Chairman wished to know why an order for £4O worth of books was sent Home, when a resolution was passed at last annual meeting to send for books to the value of £3O, It was explained that it was originally decided to send for £4O worth, but at the annual meeting, the funds not warranting the outlay, the resolution was amended ; subsequently when the Government gub-

sidy of £22 Is was received the Committee resolved to send for the £4O worth. The Chairman questioned the expediency of rescinding resolutions passed ntannual Duelings, aud thought a general meeting should be called in a case like the one referred to. The Secretary suggested the advisability of increasing the amount of insurance on the hooks. It was resolved on (he motion of Mr Eckford, seconded by Mr Hughes—- “ That the insurance on tho books be increased by £50.” It was resolved on the motion of Mr Cunningham, seconded by Dr Fish—- “ That the Secretary be allowed free membership.” Mr Waite suggested that the pictures coming with the illustrated papers, and which were stored away should he sold by auction, and it was agreed to do so. Mr Cunningham suggested (he advisability of the Rev. Geo. Barclay giving a lecture in the Institute. It wou'd leal to more interest being taken in the Institute by the public. Mr Barclay said it was not from want of interest in (ho Institute that he had not given a lecture; but his time was too much occupied, and a lecture would need preparation. He was iu doubts ns to the popularity of a lecture, and it was discouraging to a lecturer to prepare a subject and then have only a small audience attendee hear it. Mr Eckford agreed with Mr Cunningham, and thought a lecture would be of benefit to the people. Mr Barclay said he would promise to give a lecture if the Committee could get two or three other gentlemen to give lectures also. Dr Fish said it was easy enough to get men to lecture, but the difficulty was to get a “ lecturer.” It was resolved that the Secretary and members of the Committee endeavour to get other gentlemen to give lectures. Tho appointment of the new Committee was then proceeded with, and the following were elected ‘.—Patron, Rev, Geo. Barclay ; President, Her. Jas. Preston ; Vice-President, Dr Fish ; Treasurer, Mr T. Hughes ; Secretary, MrE. Hardcastle. Committee, Messrs J. Cunningham, J. Huffey, J. Pizzey, T. Hardcastle, G. W. Westropp, W, Willoughby, J. Satterthwaite, E. J. S. Eckford, R, H. Pearpoint and J. Mundell, It was resolved to meet on the first Wednesday in each month, tho meetings to be convened by tho Secretary by postcard. Mr Eckford proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the retiring officers for tho past year. This was seconded by Mr Mundell and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the rev. Chairman brought the meeting to a close.