MASTERTON INSTITUTE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2698, 18 September 1885, Page 2

MASTERTON INSTITUTE.

The regular monthly meeting of tho Library Committee was held last night, Present, —The MayorandMessrs Beetham Westin, Smith, Beard, Papworth, Berry, Gapper, Mason, and Rodman, In the absence of the Secretary and the minute book, it was resolved that the business be proceeded with as far as the reports of Committees were concerned.

Mr Redman was appointed to act as Secretary pro. tern, ~The report of the book Committee was read by Mr Papworth. BOOK COMMITTEE. Your Book Committee have to report that the library is in a fairly satisfactory condition, although it is fast becoming inadequate to our requirements. New book shelves have been erected the whole length qf the hitherto vacant wall, enabling all works in the library, which amounts 1*550, representing upwards of IGOO volumes, to be properly classified and (shelved. We have inspected all books in the library, and have found a number in duplicate— amounting to about 28—which we have laid 'aside and recommend they be disposed of as not being for our requirements (as per schedule affixed). There is also a number require binding to prevent their getting into a worthless state. The catalogue is now ready to be placed m the hands of the printer, the compilation of which as well as the classifying and shelving of books, reflects great credit on the librarian, who has performed the work without any outside assistance, and we recommend it be printed immediately. Your Committee, after due consideration, do recommend the discontinuance of the "Field," as we do not think it strictly within the province of the Institute to provide sporting newspapers; also the "Mail, Judy, Saturday Review, and Quarterly Review," all of which are duplicated by papers of a like nature; but we would recommend that the " Nineteenth Century" he laid on the table, as it is a more popular work, and would, therefore, be more largely read, and the money accruing from these discontinuances, LBlos, could be utilised to advantage by procuring a greater variety. Your Committee have procured 1200 book labels at a cost of eight shillings (pattern affixed), us they were urgently - required to complete the classification of books. We would suggest that 'an Irish newspaper be laid on the table of the reading room, as we consider Irish residents have a just claim to be represented there. Since writing this report, the librarian has repaired a numbpr of bookp, leaving ' about one dozen that require re-binding. Mr Redman saicl that the fact of "The Field" being a sporting paper should not be a reason for its discontinuance. Mr Gapper moved and Mr Mason seconded that the report be adopted, Mr Beard moved tljat tho reasons expressed for the discontinuance of" The Field" be struck out. Mr Redman seconded.

Mr Papworth said tho paper contained such an amount of matter not applicable to the Colonies in relation to sports yachting &0,, that it was deemed inadvisable to retain it.

The amenment was lost, and the report as read adopted. The House Committee reported as follows:

HOUHE PQJI3I|TTEE'S li^PpUT, Your House havo to, report that it is of the utmost that the outside of tHo building, should be painted as early as practicable, and wo would recommend that t|ie iy|qle of the upper portion of the. building, above the first cornice of the front and end, facing south-west, should receive at least three coats of paint, and tho whole of the remainder of the building two coats, The jpofoftlie whole building is in urgent need of repair, as the water from leakages is fast destroying, and entirely removing the paper,'from" the' walls, therefore giving almost every room an appearance of dilapidation, The causeof the leaks may possibly be from boards in tho gutters becoming rotten, or insufficient flushing up the parapet, but more probably from defective building construction. Your Committee therefor© recommend that an architect's opinion be taken to detect the causo and advise the l'omedy, The papor on the walls of the stair-case will require a partial renovation, but can be left in abeyance until repairs to the roof have been effected. There are also a few chairs in the upper room that require repairing, and, if it is the intention of the Committee to retain the upper room for leotqre? apd other pgrppapq, would recommend that ftdcqijate fitting'' be obtained as early a$ possible. An obligatiqn of enlargement to tlie Library at an early date foa forced itself übon our attention, for should there be an advent of new books to the Library this year, there will again be the demand for more shelving room. Your Committee have given this question considerable attention, and discussed various plans, It has'been suggested that the present reading room should be used as a Library and the upper room utilised as a reading room, but your Committee consider nothing could be more detrimental to the popularity of the readingrpflm, mid would have the effect of making the readingroom as niuclvtoo Committee room would'be too small now. Moreover, it would deprive the' Committee of a room to which' is attached a considerable income, and the pjjji' jlj josje'in tlie present 'financial atateqf tye Institute. As the arguments on this creation sre so numerous and manifold, your Committee recommend that it be the subject for special debate at a meeting of the general Committee. The new bookshelves whioh have been erected in the Library would be considerably improved in appearance by having all the edges stained, We therefore advise the work being included in the "painting specifications," The routine your Committee would recommend as the most practical in which the work could be carried out is to 'thoroughly repair the roof, then nil repairs to ceil*

ings, wall-paper, etc., could be included' in the specifications for painting the building, as a considerable saving would be effected by massing. the whole of thi painters' work together. We would suggest that Mr Jago be requesl'e&tto: return the chairs he borrowed froriwns Institute some time ago, as they wgl'b'e required on Tuesday next, the upper room being engaged for a lecture.

Mr Beard moved that as they had no statement of their funds the whole report stand over to be considered at a Committee meeting that day week, the 24th inat.—Carried.

Mr Gapper asked whether the committee recommended the roof be covored with iron.

Mr Beard would like to know wherad the money was to come from. If the? Council should stop the cost out of Library rate ho should be against it, as that meant sacrificing the bookß for the sake of the,building, and if they did not. get new books they would not make the library a succesß. The matter then dropped.

It was decided that the names of the Secretary and custodian be not printed on the covers of the library catalogue. . The bosk committee was instructed to withdraw the printing of tho covers for the present. The meeting then adjourned.