TUAPEKA ATHENEUM.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 17 October 1868, Page 3

TUAPEKA ATHENEUM.

A generaTmeeting of subscribers to the Athenaeum- was held in the new Athenaeum Building, Lawrence, on Tuesday evening — Mr. Jameson in the chair. After some discussion as- to the' minutes of the last' general meeting, which, it appears, had been only confirmed at a Committee meeting, the Secretary, Mr. Tolcher, read tho following report :~ Report op the Tttapek4.,Athen > jbt7m ajst Mining Institute. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — In submitting this, the Third Annual Eeporfc of the Tuapeka Athenaeum and Mining Institute, the Committee feel some degree of pleasure and satisfaction in meeting you under such favorable circumstances. Previous to the* commencement of the present term of office, a room had been engaged from Mr. E. .Walsh, at a rental of lt)3. per week, for Reading Room and Library, under the charge of Mr. "W. Hayes, as Honorary Librarian. Subsequently,. when, that gentleman's duties, became too multifarious, the services of Mr. C. Russell were obtained — he receiving 10 per "cent of receipts for attending to the Library. Many improvements were introduced, but unfortunately for the Committee, it found it had not at its command sufficient funds to carry out all j the suggestions made at last annual meeting ; one in, particular was the advisability j of procuring an assortment of light read; ing. A sum of £30 has, however, been spent in books. A list of works, shortly expected to arrive, has been received from the Secretary to the : Education Board, £70 worth, or 300 yok., of which are allotted to this Institution. The Committee have been pleased to observe the interest taken ; the increased number of readers, many from a distance, availing themselves of tho opportunity afforded them of having the command of a wellassorted library, without incurring a large amount of expense. • • • The number of subscribers now on the roll is seventy. It is to b"e : hoped that this number' will be greatly, augmented the ensuing year, and that a larger ■Mra^r will avail themselves of the beneHHH%rded — by this means -assisting the ' SHprfttee in carrying out the objects of For the purpose" of supplementing the subseriptipnSj-various entertainments have been provided.. The stated Friday evening Readings proved a success,- realising • to the Institution the sum of £16. These .were discontinued during the summer months, and . considerable difficulty .has-, appeared: in the jway of their being again taken vp r . However, it is hoped that the new Committee will endeavor to carry on this very pleasing and agreeable entertainment, which, it ' is believed, -will prove itself a considerable souroe' of jpyenue,

- An Athenaeums-Ball was >eld at the commencement of the year, in aid of the funds, being the second. It was attended, but ,owing,to the amount of the expense incurred in the getting up, did not prove so suocessful^as the first. : It, was intended to have opened T thia building with ,a grand ball, but the Committee, taking into consideration the general de- . pr&ssionk have thought it desirable to defer this fora time, somewhere between this and Christmas. Several lectures have been delivered in aid; these, the Committeeare sorry to say, did not meet with that encouragement they deserved, or as the Committee could ( have wished, consequently they were discontinued. It is to be hoped 'that, this profitable and intellectual means of entertainment will not be entirely, abandoned, there being a considerable amount' of local talent within reach could it only be made available. The Committee have long felt the necessity of having a building of its own, and have never failed, when opportunity offered, of urging, the claims of Tuapeka in this respect, on the notice of the Government. At length tho sum of £150 was granted towards the erection of a building, as notified by Secretary of Education Board. Your Committee felt that this sum was not sufficient, taking into account the assistance given to Oamartf,. Port Chalmers, Tokomairiro, and other places, .application was made for, £300 ; and on the occasion of the Superintendent's visit to Tuapeka, this was brought more fully under his notice, when it appeared that our indefatiguable members, Messrs Brown and Hay, had succeeded in inducing the Executive to grant another, £loo— making £250 in all. , The Committee now saw that it would be justified in undertaking the erection of a building suitable for, the purposes required. Accordingly, having submitted plans for approval to Government, proceeded to call -for tenders, in brick and wood. It will be unnecessary to refer at length to the question .of_ site jchosen. You will remember that a meeting of subscribers was called for the purpose of considering this question. " The Committee, believing the original site would entail too great an expense" in foundation, decided that the site upon which the building is now erected was the most suitable — the , Institution retaining the two sections adjoining Gabriel's Road as'an : endowment." The tender of Mr. J. Mackney, for the sum of £533 Bs. 9d., was accepted, the building to be brick. It may be stated in passing, that the contractor has fulfilled his engagement to Hie Committee's entire satisfaction — everything in connection with the building being ; done in a workmanlike manner, and finisned with good taste. A small portion of this site has been leased to Mr.'S. Wootton, of Wetherstones for ninety-nine years, at a rental of Is. per annum, with a bonus of £2. The other sections have been offered , for lease ; however, no definite proposals were made, and the Committee are now expecting to have the sections made more ■ suitable for building purposes,- by a proposed alteration in the Gabriels Road. The building has been paid for by cash — Government Grant, £250 ; borrowed from Treasurer, £100 ; balance in bills ©£ three and r six months, £31 145. , It has been thought advisable ' to inaugurate Saturday Evening Concerts, which, with readings and proposed ball, will, it is hoped, place the Committee in funds to meet these engagements as they fall due. _ " - Your Committee, on taking the new building, found it would be necessary to secure the services of some one to take permanent charge of the building and Library* ; and are . happy to state that a satisfactory arrangement has been made with Mr. Thornley. That gentleman has undertaken the duties of Librarian and Keeper, the Committee would, express the hope that the support and sympathy of the^people will be with them to enable it to discharge their engagement's with him. It will not be out of place for me' to state that arrangements aro in' course of settlement for the lestablishnfenfc of' a Magazine Club. A list of periodicals have been selected to be forwarded .per first mail. An extra charge of Is. per month to subscribers will be made to -coyer cost of. postage, commissions, &c. This, with consignments of books, referred,to'previously, will make the Institution sufficiently attractive to draw a large amount of support. t The Library is .now in complete working «rder. The " Daily Times, " " Tuapeka Times " and "Press," and all other papers obtainable, are to. be seen on the table of the Reading Room. Government Gazette, Votes and Proceedings of Councilj Acts of Parliament, and every information that can be .obtained is supplied, and, in fact, everything done that can tend to make the Raiding Rqom a place where an evening" can be spent quietly and agreeably, in moral and intellectual improvement. .. - Mr. Toleher said a Magazine Club had been organised, at an extra subscription of Is. per month. -He then read a list of the periodicals they pro-jposed-subscribing for. Dr. Halley said he was surprised to hear the committee of an institution like the Athenaeum recommending such, cheap and nasty periodicals as "Bow Bells" and the " London Journal. As far as he could gather, the avowed object of such institutions was to .improve, not to vitiate the public tasto. • ■Mr". Toleher said a 'great desire for additional light reading had been shown on the part of subscribers. - ' Dr; Hally said, light reading was a relative term ;, unwholesome and' depraved periodicals could hardly be considered such. , , - Mr. Ferguson said he was astonished at Dr. Halley objecting to so instructiye and amusing a magazine as -the " London Journal.? For. Ms own part ne had no hesitation in avowing. his respect and admiration for the literature contained in it and "Bow Bells." On the motion of Mr. Eichards, a "vote .of thanks was awarded to the retiring*' Committee ; and- on the motion of Mr. Hay, a special vote of thanks was awarded by acclamation to ]$&. Toleher, for the able manner in which" he had filled the office of Secretary..

The following 'gentlemen were then "elected by "-Ballot" as the new-Com-mittee : — Dr.'Halley-, Messrs. Jameson, Ferguson, Stenhouse, Matthews, Tolcher, J. C. Brown, Hay, and Morrison. With the usual vo1;e of thanks to tho Chairman, the meeting dispersed.