TE AWAMUTU PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 384, 19 January 1899, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU PUBLIC LIBRARY.

A meeting of the Library Committee was held on Monday evening last. There were present : Messrs J. P. Vause (chairman), J. F. Audrew and J. L. Maudeno. The Chairman reported that new books to the value of £'2o had been ordered from Mudies, Londou, and should be to hand early in April next. The reading room tables had been covered and other small matters attended to.

The following is the committee's report for the year ended 31st December, 1898 :—Your committee have pleasure in reporting the continued prosperity of our library, the number of subscribers being well kept up and the receipts for the year just closed being larger than for any previous year. The total reveuue for the year was £75 19s lid, which includes a surplus of over £lB from the Industrial Exhibition (held iu November last under the auspices of your committee) paid into the general fund. A large number of new looks has been placed on the shelves during the year. These include new editions of Scott, Dickens, and other staudard authors. The total number of works now in the library is 1,244, aud a further £2O worth of recent and popular works is now under orders from Mudies, London, and should be on the Bhelves early in April next. The tot»l expenditure on new books (including the £2O worth under order), is £34 19s lid. The number of subscribers duriug the year was 74, the number remaining at the close of the year being 54. The number of books taken out during the year was 3482. Two entertainments given during the year in aid of the library resulted in an addition of £3 3s 3d to the funds. The reading-room continues to be well attended, and the illustrated papers and maeaziues supplied are much appreciated. An alteration has been made in the supply of magazines, which, while keeping up the number and quality of the magazines, should materially reduce the cost. The whole of the outside of the building has recently been painted and other improvements made. The year has closed with a credit balance of 18s 6d. The assets and liabilities at the close of the year are about equal. The only defaulter for the year is the Mutual Improvement Society, for rent due. Your committee trust our library may continue to be as popular and as well supported in the future as in the past —J. P. Vacse, chairmau.

The following is the statement of receipts and expenditure for the year : Receipts : Credit balance 31st December, 1897, £l3 12s sd; urdiuary subscriptions, £3O 14s ; Magazine Club, £2 18s ; donations, £1 13 ; entertainments, £3 3s 3d ; Industrial Exhibition sarplus, £lB Is 4d ; rent allotment, 17s 6d ; books and catalogues sold, £1 lis 6d ; magazines sold, £2 7* 31; waste paper, £1 9s 8d ; replacing books, 4s—total, £75 19s lid. 'Expenditure: Salaries and labour, £l3 los id; lighting, etc., £2 2a 3d; new books, £34 19s Hd; papers and magazines, £l3 18s sd; freight nud cartage, 14s 2d ; insurance, £1 14s ; printing and repairs, £4 8s 9d; stationery, stamps and sundries, £3 8s 9d ; credit balance, ISs 6d—total, £75 19sA*l lid. The balance-sheet for the year was approved, subject to audit, and the report for the year, as drawn up by the Chairman, adopted. It was decided that the annual meetiug of subscribers be held in the readingroom on Monday, 23rd January. Mr Bowden was appointed to audit the accounts for the year.