Thames Mechanics' Institute.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2944, 23 July 1878, Page 2

Thames Mechanics' Institute.

The annual meeting of the subscribers of the Thames Mechanics' Institute was held at the museum last evening. There were about 40 members present, Captain Fraser ("President) being in the chair.

The Chairman, after reading the advertisement calling the meeting, referred to the large attendance, which he hoped indicated that a fresh Impetus would be given to the institution. Mr E. W. Hollis, Hon. Secretary, read the minutes of the last; annual meeting, which were confirmed. The Hon. Secretary then read the annual report and balance sheet as follows:

Your Committee have the honor to submit their ninth annual report on the affairs of the Mechanics' Institute, together with the balance sheet and a statement of assets and liabilities to, the'3olh 'June last.- The amount of subscriptions has inereasd from £107 16s to £123 11s 6d, and the attendant at the reading room has mniotained the average of past years. The financial position of the Institute has not retrograded so much as may have beeu, anticipated from the loss of the, Provincial subsidy, the total receipts for the year being £217 Bs, as against £280 18s of the year previous. For this position wo are indebted to the Borough Council for. a donation of £25, being one-half of vote of £50 made to the Institute by that body ; to the Thames Amateur Dramatic Club for £20, and the Count De Zaba for £16 14s, boing the proceeds of an Institute lecture.. For the £50 voted by the Thames County Council an order is how due for a choice selection of standard works, which will prove a desirable addition to the library. Your Committee recommend that. representations be made during the present session of Parliament to obtiini if possible, a grant from the Grovefnmerit equivalent to the amount of the late Provincial subsidy. Mr Eice has been com* mnnicated with respecting a share of the. grant in aid of public libraries. The sum of £121 has been obtained by declaring the library free, the definition of which simply means free to non subscribers who desire to consult bosks of rafei ence. The law does not impose a right to take books out of the library without payment. It will be seen the handsome sum of £200 will be expended in books during the current half year. Some change has been made in the list of periodicals during- the past year by eliminating some which were considered by subscribers objectionable, or little appreciated, and replaced by others which your committee trust have found greater favors with readers. Your committee regret that during the ensuing year a demand on the funds of the institute must be made for repairs to the building. It has been proposed to borrow the sum required from the Bank of New Zealand or the Building Fociety. The lowest rale of interest offered by either of these institutions will be accepted. It. is desirable a sufficient sum should be borrowed to repair or alter the present roof, to paint the outside and repair the paper, &c, on the inside of the building, and also to furnish the small intermediate apartment, which subscribers may use as reading and Bmoking rooms. Your committee did not attempt to arrange a winter course of lectures, as by experiem^ it wa3 found the,incidental expenditure withm a fraction balanced the receipts. Your committee, in resigning their trust, do so with a sincere hope that the en3uiug year will witness a marked improvement in the financial position of the Institute, in important additions of sterling .works in the library, and an increase of the number of subscribers. The balance-sheet was as follows:—liabilities: To Bank of New Zealand overdraft, £53 8s ; deposits and library account, £1 14s 6d ; papers and periodicals, £43 18s 5d ; fuel, lighting, attendance, miscellaneous expenses, printing, advertising, stationery, and insurance, £140 la 9d; expenses Dramatic Club entertainment, Count de Zaba's lecture, £17 17b 9dj interest and rates, £6 3s 7d. Cash account: Balance in hand, £4 3s Bd—total, £217 8s Bd. Receipts: By balance cash in hand, June 30, 1877, £7 12s 2d } donations, £25; subscriptions, £123 lls 6d ; deposits, waste-paper, refund of rates by Borough Council, overdraft, £5 15s 8d ; benefit performances by Dramatic Club, £35 18s 3d; Count de Zaba's lecture, £18 14s—total, £217 8s Bd.

The Chairman put the report, which he said he considered very satisfactory. Mr Horsbrugh moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr Dey, and carried unanimously. The next business was the election of officers. Mr McCullougb. proposed, and Mr Paul seconded, that Captain W. Fraser be elected president for the ensuing year. Carried uuanimoiisiy. Mr McVey moved that Messrs; Hollis

and Read be re-elected viceprnsidents for the ensuing year. Mr McGowan seconded. Carried unanimously. Mr Paul proposed that Mr T. L. Murray bo re-elected' Treasurer for the ensuing year. Seconded by Mr Mennic and carried unanimously. Tho Chairman announced that the election of the committee would be the next business. The following gentlemen were proposed: —Messrs McCullough, Paul, titoney, McGo.wan, McVey, Mennie, McD. Scott, Bayldon, Black,Wickham, Key. S. J. Neill, Ji. JN. Smith, Cloonau, Horsbrugb, G, N. Phillips, D. B. Gellion, M. Brown, 'M. . H. Airey, Patterson, Wetherall, and Smith. Messrs Hargreaves and Dey were . appointed scrutineers. The election was proceeded with by ballot, when the following gentlemen were declared elected -.—Messrs McGowan, Paul, Black, McVey, Gelljpn, Wickham, Mennie, i McCullough, Bayldon, Horsbrugh, and

Neill. Messrs Hargreav.es and Osborne were re-elected auditors. „ The Chairman said he was glad to see that some new blood had been infused into the Committee, and hoped that they would do all in their power to further the interests of the Institute by getting new subscribers, &c. (Applause.) Mr F. W. Paul proposed a vote of thanks to the officers and outgoing Committee, • who, he saidj had worked very ___I well. >v^j This was carried, and the usual compliment to the chair concluded the meet* '' in s- . ■ ;";" *. -.