MASTERTON INSTITUTE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1020, 11 March 1882, Page 2

MASTERTON INSTITUTE.

A joint meeting of a Committee of the Eoroufjh Council, represented by Crs Price, MoCardle, dapper, and Chamberlain, and the M»Bterton Library Commit" tee and Trustees, represented by Messrs Feist, McGregor, Carr, Boddington, and Payton, was hold at the Council Chambers last evening A preliminary disoussion of rather an irregular oharaoter ensued re the appointment of a ohairman and the statua of the mating. Half a donn enairmen wera

nominated and each one excused himself from presiding, Cr Price was of tho opinion that the Councillors received the Committee as a deputation, the letter, however, sent by the Council intimated that the Committee met the Councillors in conference and not as a deputation. Eventually thia position was accepted and Mr Feist took the chair. Cr Gapper reported the grant promised by the Trustees of £6O a-year. The vote was not for any specitio period. The Committee of the Council had come to the conclusion that it was preferable to borrow £4OO at if per cent from the bank for a term, to obtaining it at a higher rate from a Building Society, Cr McCardlo said they had been much indobted to Mr Feist for the auccess which had attended their application to the Trust. A long discussion then took place on the legal process by which the Trustees of the Library could place the Borough Council in possession of the building. It was decided that if a conveyance could not be given without a special Act of Parliament a lease could bo issue! under certain conditions which would obviate the cost of legislation. Mr Payton moved that the subscribing body be given the privilege of nominating one-third of the new Committee. It had, ho said, the most direct interest in the success of the Institute, and if subscribers had a dual vote from'the fact that they wero ratepayers as well, the objection was met by the consideration that they paid a dual contribution. Mr Boddington seconded the motion. Cr Price would not Bupport the proposal as he did not wish to see any distinction between ratepayers who were subscribers and ratepayers who were non-subscribers. Cr McCardle thought that the fact that sixty persons wore already subscriber who took a practical interest in the Institute should commend the claim which had been made on their behalf. It was desirable that the reading community should be represented on the Committee. Cr Gapper would vote against the motion because the subscribers, if they chose could carry the eloction of the Committee in their capacity as ratepayers. Mr McGregor said that he had differed from the Library Committee on the expedience of tbe present proposal and should vote against itThe motion was put and carried by the •vote of the chairman. On the motion of Mr Carr it -was resolved tlmt the number of the Committee be eleven. Mr Boddington expressed a desire to hear the Councillors, and on the question of ways and meana. Cr Price said that in the absence of Or Caselber?, their, chairman they did not wish to go into the question though it was one to which they had given attention. Mr McGregor expressed a decided opinion that tho new Committeo would be financially no better off than the old one. Mr Payton differed from Mr McGregor. He estimated that the new Comraittoe would have a balance of 150 available during the comin,' year for books wlioreaa the old Committee lmd in the past joar only ilB to spend. Mr Boddington said tho want of fundß had killed tho old management, and that it would be fatal to the new one. After some further matters of detail had been discussed, tho meeting adjourned.