TUAPEKA ATHENAEUM.

Tuapeka Times, Issue 432, 6 February 1875, Page 2

TUAPEKA ATHENAEUM.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the Tuapeka Athenaeum. was held in the Athenaeum Hall on Thursday evening, 4tlv inst. W. Jamiann, Esq.., was voted to the chair. The minutes of last annual meeting were read and adopted. Mr. H. L. Squires read the annual report as follows :—: — "In closing their labors for the past year, the Committee congratulate the subscribers to the institution upon its continued prosperity and present satisfactory financial position. Though the past twelve months hare been in many respects- a very trying period for the district, we are happy to say that pur principal sources of revenue have remained steady, and in some items show an increase. From the financial statement it "will be seen that the ! total liabilities are £32 6s 4d ; while the assets, including £19 18s 6d, cash in hand, are £33 0s Bd, leaving a balance in faror of the institution of 14s 4d. Com Dared with, the j balance-sheet of last year, we see in this year's statement an increase of £24 18s in the item i of rents. This, however, is counter-balanced by a total absence of any receipts from entertainments or lectures given in aid of the institution, and which amounted last year to £20 8s 6d. We consider our deficiency in this respect as a great loss, and trust that the incoming Committee will be able to render a more satisfactory account in this respect in the next annual statement. The general expenditure remains much the same as last year, excepting a sum of £10 15s 6d for a glass case for the museum and other improvements. Thirty-three members have ceased to subscribe, of whom 23 have left the district, and 30 new members hare been enrolled, learing 89 on the roll on 31st December. 1953 rolumes were issued during the past year, and 122 new volumes have been added to the library. Two new magazines have also been introduced — one on engineering and mining styled, " Iron," and the well-known " Art Journal." One paper offered gratis (the " Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser ") was declined. Considerable additions hare been made to the museum. The native birds forwarded from the Colonial Museum by Dr. Hector, together, with some others presented by various parties, have been stuffed and placed in a suitable case. The approaching completion of the railway to Lawrence has led your Committee to discuss the advisability of leasing jihe present site and erecting a new building on the Athenaeum reserve in Lancaster-street. After due consideration, we are of opinion that the reserve in Lancaster-street would offer a very favorable site for a new building, and that were a large hall erected suitable to the wants of the Friendly Societies, and with proper accommodation for public entertainments, a steady income might be derived from these sources, which would quite warrant the additional expenditure. The present building and site can be leased by the Committee for 99 years ; and from its position in immediate proximity to the terminus of the railway, will become of groat value for building and storeage purposes. " Your Committee, talcing into consideration the numerous calls upon the time of business men in the town attending as Committee men of our various local institutions, agreed to hold their meetings ' quarterly in lieu of each month, and hare found the plan to work well, and recommend its continuance. " During the past year, ten meetings of

Committee have been held. The attendance was as follows :— J. O. Brown, 6; W. C. Adams, 7; H. L. Squires^yfitfv; H. - J. Abel, 7 ; Dr.- Stewart, Av&BPHff* 6 ; A. Ferguson^ 5; A. M'Kinlayf &■? B. H. Fisher, 5." Dr. Halley asked why the " Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser" was refused by the Committee. Was the newspaper a blackguard one ? The Chairman said the Committee de cided not to allow that journal to be placed upon the table of the readingroom. Dr. Halley would like to know if the interests of religion would be served by excluding that journal. Were they so weak in faith that they could not allow it to be received. A desultory discussion here ensued on this matter. The Chairman said the report was before the meeting, and .it was for them to adopt or reject it. It was pointed out by a subscriber that Dr. Halley was a member of the Committee, and that he ought to know the reasons which induced the Committee to reject the " Advertiser." The Chairman suggested that the minute referring to the matter should be read, which the Secretary accordingly did, as follows :—: — " Moved by Mr. Squires, and seconded by Dr. Halley — That after perusal of ths first copy of the ' Maryborough and Danolly Advertiser,' received from Mr. Logan, the Committee deem it their duty to decline the receipt of the paper in future, considering it unfit for general perusal or circulation. The Committee beg at the same time to thank Mr. Logan for his courtesy in offering the paper, and regret they have to express such aa,^ unfavorable opinion of its merits."- -^^ Carried. » The meeting was satisfied with the rea- . sons set forth in the minute for the^rejec- , tion of the journal in question, and the • discussion then, ended. Mr. Copland, with regard to the report, had a word or two to say. He found fault with the Committee in allowing the course of Readings to lapse, and not providing something in its place. They heard a great deal about young men going to public fi&uses. ' Could not the Committee have provided some amusement, and "thus have Berved one of the greatest aims of the institution ? Had the Committee grown old, and forgotten their duties. It had been said that it was difficult to get ap Readings this year, but it was difficult to get up anything if it was not gone about in a riyht way. Mr.' Herbert asked if anything further had been done towards leasing the 500- • acre reserve at the Beaumont. Mr. Squires said the reason why th& Committee did not refer to this matter in ' the report was that they had nothing new to report. They had not yet received the title, and were not likety to until after the Provincial Council met.

The Rev. Mr. Beaumont said he would like to see a classification- of the books that were taken out by the subscribers. They were told in the report that 1900 books had bßen circulated during the j r ear,' bnfc they were not told what kind of book* they were. They might be London journals for all the meeting knew. Mr. Adams st;itetl that something had been done by the Committee to classify the books ta«ken from the library by subscribers. A. book was kept by the librarian in which all the works were classified, and this conlcl be referred to by parties desirous of information on that spc^e. This gentleman then on |p,. „.say . that he was sorry that the proceeds from entertainments had fallen off,, as' ho was the first to initiate the Readings aome four years ago. For a time they were well patronised, and the entertainment provided was of an instructive nature. In course of time- the readers resident in the district exhausted their best pieces, and no new blood being introduced, the attendance gradually dwindled down. The indifferent rendaring of comic songs, some of them not of a very good character, had also a detrimental effect. Mr. Adams then explained his views with regard to the removal of the building, and stated that the Athonaemn Committee were possessed of a suitable section at the corner of Colonsay and Lancaster-streets, and as the Superintendent had dealt liberally with the Committee in giving r them the present site and several valuabla " reserves, he thought that if the Government required the ground for railway purposes that it ought to be given them with good grace, as it would be advantageous to the citizens to have the railway station in as convenient a position as possible, and he thought that none better could be found than the site of the. .Athenaeum building. He would not recommend the immediate erection of a new building, unless the present one was required forrailway purposes ; but would recommend that the Committee endeavor to arrange with the Town Council for temporary accommodation, as when the Town Hall was completed there would be a large amount of space available there, and to build a large hall on the new site in Golonsaystreet would be a very costly work. .He would also impress upon the new Committee the desirablity of initiating a course of lectures during the incoming winter. Mr. A. Humphrey said that 'tiie site for the new building ia Colonsay-street was not a suitable one. He would sue-, gest that the Committee endeavour to secure a better one in a more central position. To, erect a large hall ( on-the<, Colonsay-street section would, be. a very expensive work. Mr. Fraer said that a special meeting of subscribers would need to be called before . a site for a new building was decided upon. The retiring committee's report ' wa« then adopted as read. Mr. Copland moved, and Dr. H alley seconded, "That 1 the incoming Commi'-.tee be requested to institute Ji* course' of lectures and entertainments during the •-" winter months." — f Carried). ,j The Rev. Mr. Beaumont moved, and Mr. R. Herbert seconded, " That a classified list of books circulated among - subscribers bejgurnished with the next annual report. '—(Carried). * Mr. E. Herbert moved, and Mr. Adams - seconded, ''That an effort be made by - the new Committee to utilise the reserves." Mr. Herbert gave the old Committee credit for having done their utmost to effect that object. The mofion was carried. Mr. Fraer proposed, and Mr. Adams seconded, '*' That a larger number of new books be procured during the incoming year." Mr. Squires moved as an amendment, "That the new Committee use their most strenuous efforts to increase the .number of subscribers, as without an increased revenue the Committee would be unable to add largely to the Library." Thq amendment was carried on the voice?,

The financial statement was then read, and on the motion of Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Mr. Burns, adopted. The statement will be found in our advertising columns. The Rev. Mr. Beaumont moved, and Mr. Jones seconded, " A hearty vote of thanks to the retiring Committee (Car r ried). Mr. J. C Brown was re-elected President of the institution. The Rev. Mr. Beaumont moved, " That the number of the new Committee be nine, including the President, and that five constitute a quorum." — (Carried). The election of a new Committee was then proceeded with by ballot. The following was the result of the ballot : — Mr. H. J. Abel, 19 ; Mr. Jones, 17 ; Mr. M'Kinlay 17 ; Mr. Fraer, 16 ; Mr. Adams, 1&; Mr. F. H. M'Coy, 13; Drs. Halley and Stdwarfc, 12 each. - Dr.' Stewart retired in favour o||Dr. Halley, ; and the eight gentlemen above named were elected as a Committee for the ensuing year. Messrs. Jamison and Copland were re-appointed Auditors. Tne Rev. Mr. Beaumont moved, and Mr. Harrop seconded, "That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr. J. C. Love, the Secretary to the institution." — (Carried by acclamation). m 'The meeting adjourned with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman. There were upwards of thirty subscribers to the institution present at the meeting, and great interest was evinced in +he' proceedings. , At the oonoluesion of the meeting Mr. M. Hay sold by auction a quantity of magazines and periodicals, also, old editions of the ''Encyclopaedia" "Britand "Encyclopaedia," Londinensis.