TEMUKA MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2004, 6 February 1890, Page 2

TEMUKA MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting of the above was held last Tuesday evening. . Present Messrs Blyth (president), •Lee, Beri, Gentleman, Twomey, Copestake, J. W, Miles, H. M. Miles 1 aim, Andrews, McCaskill, Coira! Rutland, W. Storey, senr., and W. Storey, junr. The secretary, Mr McCaskill, read the annual balance-sheet, and the president’s annual report as follows “ To the Members of the Temuka Mechanics’ Institute. have the honor to report that since the last annual meeting there have been ten ordinary and one special meeting held, all of which have been well attended. We have been fortunate in our selection of a librarian, and no change has been made during the year We received from Mr Winning a present of M voiumea 0 f books, which proved a valuable addition to our library. Durine the month of September we exchanged eS yoJumes of books with the Pleasant tomt Library, which we believe has proved beneficial to the institute. We are sorry we cannot report any marked improvement in our financial position. As you are doubtless aware we have no other source of income except the members’ subscriptions, a few of which have fallen oli during the year, but we have been tortunate in securing new ones in their p ace. W o regret that in a community like ours there are so few people who avail themselves of the opportunity of becoming members of the institute, considering the yearly subscription is so low. “ J. Blyth, “President.” The balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been £4l 6s lid* expenditure, £36 11s sd; leaving a balance of £4 15s 6d, with an outstanding liability of £4 19s 2d.

n 'JJ 6 President moved the adoption ot the report and balance-sheet. Mr oim seconded it. In reply to questions, the; president said the institute was in a better position financially and in membership than last year. r Thie question of ways and means was then discussed, and it was suggested that seme of the papers should be knocked off. Mr Copestake suggested that a concert should be held, but it was urged that the same thing had been suggested for years and nothing done.

Mr Situ suggested that there should be a charge for the use of the readingroom alone. He should like to see more people in the room. Mr Lee said if they lowered the subscription to 5s for the readingroom the result would diminish the income to the library. The subscription was low enougli already. . Mr Miles moved a vote of thanks to the retiring officers for the manner in which they had carried out the business of last year. The motion was seconded bv Mr Sim, and carried unanimously. Mr Blyth thanked them for the vote of thanks. It required a little forethought. to manage the financesnow, when they had no Government grant. .They had now enough to do to keep ; the doors open. He had been ably assisted by the committee, and on their behalf he would again thank them.

The following officers were then elected President, Mr J. Blyth ; vice-president, Mr-E. - Lee; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. Storey, juar. ; committee,' Messrs McS, Gentlemun, J. Andrews, H. M. Miles, W. G. Eutland, J. Sm, J. Beri, J, Morton, P. Coira, W. Storey, iunr., and J. McCaskill. Oh thel motioa of Mr Miles, seconded by ; Mr , Lee, a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting. At' a committee meeting held afterwards it was decided to hold meetings of the committee on the second Tuesday in each .month. Oa the motion of Mr Storey, it was resolved—“ That the thanks of the committee he accorded to the proprietors, of-: the Temuka Leadeb, Timaru :, Herald, Tapauui Courier, Waimate Times, and the Otago Workman for supplying free papers to the institute.”, . . The meeting then terminated.