MASTERTON INSTITUTE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1292, 1 February 1883, Page 2

MASTERTON INSTITUTE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the ' Masterton Jnslitute Committee was held last evening. Present—Messrs McGregor (in tho-chair), Curr, Sollar, Boddington, Grundy Hogg mid Payton, The minutes! of the' previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer 1 reported.a credit balance of £5 4a : lld.' 1 amount received since last meeting £23 j 19a. ; . ; The Secretory reported a falling off in I BubßCNptions;w.hicb was attributed to; the inadequate Bupply of new books., On the 1 motion of Mr Payton seconded, by Mr-Carr a vote of ten pounds was passed for new honks, and it was suggested that any member who desired any particular work to be procured, should communicate with the Book Committee, MH MILNEK STEPHEN. The Chairman reported that Mr Milper Stephen had occupied the Institute rooms for five days.. He had given a donation of five guineas for: the. purchase of new beoka, and his local committee had paid iii a Bum of four pounds for rent. It was a question whether the latter amount was adequate considering the facilities placed bytheCnihmitteeat;hiidisposal,-' . Mr Boddington moved and Mr Csrr seconded a resolution to the effeot that Mr Milner Stephen be obarged. ten guineas for rent of roomß,. 1 . Mr Payton opposed the resolution as illiberal. By their own rules they could only charge a guinea per diem, and to double the charges on him would be sharp practice. Besides they were cutting their own throats. Mr .Stephen was the best customer tliey ever had. The'y bad received nine guineas from him, and as .he intended to return to Masterton it would be'foolish to drive him away from the Institute. Mr Hogg also opposed the motion. Mr Stephens' committee could easily have obtained mother room equally suitable it a nominal charge, and it was only on the undontauding that a moderate rate would be charged that a preference was given to the Institute. Mr Boddington spoke strongly against Mr Stephen, iniimning that his; five guinea donation was merely a cheap advertisement for himself, and ceusuring him for going away without settling for the rent, Mr Hogg pointed out that Mr Milner Stephen personally had nothing to do with the Institute Committee. He was represented by a local committee which held itself responsible on hiß behalf, The Chairman suggested a compromise. He thought ten guineas wastoomuoh to charge, and suggested the addition of two pounds to the amouut already paid, Mr Boddington points;! out that Mr Milner Stephen used the lower as well as well as the upper room, and declared that it would militate against the Institute if the Committee did not enforce a fair charge. Mr Hogg thought the Committee would only hold themselves up to ridicule by standing out for a high charge, - Mi Payton moved, and the Chairman seconded that the amount already paid in, £4, be accepted, but withdrew this motion so as not to olssh with ono subsequently movod by Mr Grundy in favor of the rent being five guineas, The latter' sum was carried on the voices, j READING STANDS, The Secretary reported that the reading stands in the Institute room required to be improved and the Home Committee waß empowered to make the necessary alterations. AUDITORS. On the motion of Mr Boddington a fee of two guineas was passed to the auditors Messrs Brown and Dalrymple, it being Understood that the latter were willing to return it to the Institute.as, a subscription, LICENSE FEE; _ On the motion of Mr IJogg it was decided to aak the Borough Council to refund the license paid on the account of the Institute upper room. SUNDAY VISITORS. Mr Bacon, the Sunday custodian, reported that there was an average attendance of twenty-three visitors on Sunday afternoons, and expressed his willingness to continue in charge of .the room on that day till other arraueements could be made, Mr Bacon was thanked for his report and requested for the present to oontinue bis services to the oomm ttee, BINDING BOOKS, Mr Burrett wrote stating that his price for binding books would be higher than than previously charged. It was decided to accept Mr Burrett's terms. • ACCOUNTS. The following'accounts were passed for paymentlnsurance, £ll3s 6d; Burrett £4l6s Bd'; Smith and Hogg, 6s; 6. M, Wood, 9s; T. Wilton, 4s 7d; Times, £l2<6d; Herald, 12s. The meeting then adjourned.