THAMES MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 241, 17 July 1872, Page 3

THAMES MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

ANNUAL MEETING. Tiie annual general meeting of the members of the Thames Mechanics’ Institute was held last evening, for the purpose of receiving the yearly report and the balance-sheet, and to consider a motion to amend rule 14, which is ns follows : “ 14. All monies received by the Secretary or other person authorised by the Committee shall be paid to the Treasurer whenever the amount shall exceed £5 sterling, and all disbursements shall bo made by draft of the Treasurer, countersigned by one of the Vice-Presidents, provided such payments have been duly authorised by the Chairman of the meeting of Committee.” There was but a small attendance. Mr Warden Fraser, one of the VicePresidents of the Institution, occupied the chair. Mr L. J. Bagnall officiated as secretary in the absence of Mr A. B. Bain, who sent an apology for non-attendance, he being unavoidably detained by business in Auckland. The Acting-Secretary read the following report and balance-sheet:— THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. lGtli July, 1872: The Committee Leg to lay before members the following report of their proceedings during the past year, accompanied by audited balance sheets made up to 30rit June, and financial statements : Building. —lmmediately after taking office the committee took steps towards giving effect to the general desire expressed at the last annual meeting for

premises, and tlic present site, in QueenBtreet, was obtained onjiberal terms from Mr Robert Graham, and a plan for building kindly prepared by Mr R N. Smith. Further action was suspended until it was known what amount of assistance would be voted by the Provincial Council, then coming into session. The latter having recommended that a grant of £250 sterling be placed on the estimates, the committee decided to call for teuders and accepted that of Tinkler and Co., for the pres-nt building, the contract price being £344 10s sterling, an unexpected disappointment occurred ; in place of £250, as recommended by the council, only £IOO, was received from the government, and that sum was paid only after considerable delay and correspondence with the help of subscriptions from the geueral public, a timely and handsome benefit given by the Thames Scottish Volunteers, and a sum of

£l5O from the Bank of New Zealand on the personal security of members of the Committee, the building was completed, and the contractors paid in full. Larger premises would have been desirable, but there not being sufficient funds available for the purpose, we must rest content, at least for the present, with the existing building, looking upon it as an instalment of what may be obtained at a future time. Library. —The library now numbers eight hundred and forty volumes, comprising many valuable works on all subjects, and an addition consisting chiefly of light literature, has recently been made through the assistance of a welcome benefit given by the Thames Engineer Corps. Still it lias been a matter of regret with the committee that the very iimited funds at their disposal precluded any hut small purchases of books being made. A catalogue was prepared and print d soon after the last annual meeting. The number of books issued (luring the last quarter amounted to 774, with a steady increase. The demand tar exceeds the supply, and an effort must be made to largely increase the stock of the Institute to keep pace with the requirements of the district. Reading Room.—The reading room is alwaj swell attended, many persons not members paying the entrance fee of twopence for the privilege of reading the papers.

Lectures and Grasses.—During the past year but few lectures have been delivered. One delivered by the President, his Horor T. B. Gillies, on “Our System of Government, was afterwards printed, and a number of copies presented to the Institute by the lecturer for distribution. A series of popular scientific lectures was commenced by Mr A.W. Severn in February last, with the view of starling a Museum with the. proceeds. Those delivered were of so interesting and attractive a character that their temporary discontinuance (owing, it is understood, to a pressure of business) lias been cause sf much regret. The debating class having now a more commodious place for meeting has taken a fresh stall, and is now in flourishing progress. In the absence of any recognised musical society the committee, at the request of some members, sanctioned tin? organisation of two classes for the cultivation of music. These afterwards became embodied in a society, under the name of the Philharmonic Society, comprising a choral and an elementary class, to which is about to be added an instrumental class, and with ordinary fair management there would appear to he good prospects of the society thus started becoming a successful, as well as a most useful local institution. Exhibition. —The success which last year attended the exhibition of pictures and curiosities at the annual festival induced the committee to believe it would be well to have an exhibition this year of a more useful and general character, the idea being to encourage local industry, mining or otherwise, and if possible bring to its development those improved appliances which here or elsewhere have been found useful in economising time or labour, or multiplying productions. A considerable number of applications for space bavc been received, and it is so far arranged that the exhibition shall take place in the third week of August ; and, though hut on a very moderate scale, the committee venture to hope it may at any rate serve to pave the way toother annual exhibitions of ever-increasing importance.

Librarian. —When a move was made into the new building it was found necessary to appoint some one to take charge, and he responsible foi the issue of hooks, and accordingly on ariangcincnt was entered into witli i\lr Ilmne, who is now resident in the building and acts as librarian. Building Fund Account, —The accompanying balance-sheet exhibits a balance againstthisbuildingfundof £1531959d. To partly meet this, a loan of £IOO, repayable by monthly instalments, extending over a term of years, is arranged with the Thames Land, Building, and Investment Society, of which the Institute is a member to the extent of eight shares. The balance of £53 19s 9d will have to be immediately provided for by the incoming committee. Financial.—The receipts for last year show a eonsideiable improvement over those of the year previous, an improvement which has much increased in ratio since the new building was opened. It is satisfactory to find that the balance, though small, is on the right side. The following officers now retire in ordinary course : —President, T. B Gillies ; Vice-Presidents, Captain Fraser, R.M., and William Howe; Hon. Treasurer, T. L. Murray. CojimlTTee of Management.—Dr Fox. Messrs Bain, Bagnall, W Berry, M. Brearly, W. A. Gray, It. S. Ledger. J. Hudson, 11. N. Smith, W. C. Wright, J. H. Ward, and John Bead. Trustees.—Kow that the Institute is in possession of property, it will be necessary for this meeting to appoint Trustees to hold the same. A deed for this purpose lias been prepared, to he signed by the Chairman of this meeting after the names of the elected Trustees have been ins lted. In conclusion, the committee congratulate members on the evident increasing prosperity of the Institute. At the same time, they are fully sensible that much work lias to be done to elevate the Thames Mechanics’ Institution to its true position. The number of members most he largely increased, the revenue being thereby benefited. Greater advantages can be offered to subscribers, and the Institute made more attractive and useful. Balance-Sheet. The balance - sheet showed the financial state of the Institute as follows :—The receipts for the past year amounted to £220 Gs Id ; expenditure, £374 5s lOd ; leaving a balance on the debtor side of £153 19s 9d, lor which an overdraft at the bank lias been obtained. Mr J. D. Wickham moved the adopt'on of the report and balance-sheet as read, saying that he regretted that the attendance was not larger this evening. Mr J. C. Young seconded the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, which resolution was put aud carried.

In reply to a question by Mr Gray, the Acting-Secretary said the number of members was 181. The Secretary said it was proposed to alter rule 14, by substituting the words “honorary secretary or Chairman of the Committee,”, instead of the words “ otic of the Vice-Presidents,” and moved a resolution. to this elfc-ct. Mr J. Read seconded. Mr W. A. Gray moved an amendment, “That all drafts t’e countersigned by the Chairman of the Committee, at which the accounts for which the overdrafts were ordered were passed, and by the Secretary. Mr Wickham said he did not see that any valid reason had been shown for altering the uile. The Chairman said be thought there bad been too much trusting *o appointing as president and vice-presidents from people like Superintendents and Wardens, instead of choosing them from the working members of the committee. At the suggestion of the Chairman, it was resolved to let the consideration of the altering the rule stand over until after the election of officers.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. ] The meeting then proposed to elect officers. Dr Fox proposed the re-election of II is Honor the Superinteiidiyit, T. B. Gillies, as President. Mr J. Read seconded. This was put ami carried. Mr J. D. Wickham proposed Mr Warden Fraser as a vice-president. Mr W. A. Gray seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr J. Read proposed, and Capt. Goldsmith seconded, Dr Fox as a vice-presi-dent. Mr Young proposed, and Mr Bagxall seconded, .Mr W. Rowe as a vice-presi-dent. Dr Fox declined the honour, saying ho had not time to attend properly to the duties. Mr llowc was then elected. On llu 1 motion of Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Gray, Mr T. L. Murray was appointed Treasurer. The following were elected a committee of management, the representatives of the Press present acting as scrutineers : 11. S. Kcvcnie, W. T. Swan, ,T. Read, L. J. Bagnall, Captain Goldsmith, J. D. Wickham. R. N. Smith, A. B. Bain, 1L S. Ledger, W. A. Gray, J. Warmoll, A. Dewar. A vote of thanks to the returning officers and scrutineers was carried. rule 14. It was decided not to alter Rule 14, but that it should stand as now printed. AUDITORS. Messrs J. D. Grant and J. R. Oakley were re-elected auditors. TRUSTEES. The following were elected trustees of the building and premises, and allotment on which they stand, of the Thames Mechanics’ Institute : —Dr Fox, Captain Goldsmith, and R. S. Ledger. The Chairman was authorised to sign the deed vesting the property in those gentlemen as trustees.

Mr R. N. Smith moved that the Mechanics’ Institute lie open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, which lie thought would he productive of nuicli benefit. Mr Gray said notice of this motion had not been given, therefore it was out of order to bring it forward. Such an important moiion ought not to be brought forward without notice. The Chairman said he thought it would he well for the committee to consider the matter themselves, and if they desired to have an expression of opinion upon it they would bring it forward, but lie thought this meeting not competent to deal with the matter on the motion of an individual member without notice. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.