The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 779, 21 February 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1871.

We have been favored with a copy of the first aunual report of the Charleston Public Library and lustitute Committee, from which we gather that the institution in Charleston hs attained the widest popularity, a fact no less commendable, aa regards the community generally, than creditable to the exertions of those forming the committee. The receipts, apart from public subscriptions, average nearly £3 per week—derived from the weekly readings and the proceeds of the library, while the expenditure is very trifling. During the past quarter about £35 worth of hooks and periodicals have been added, and a sum of nearly £4O has been disbursed in a piano. Trifling aa these facta may appear they, nevertheless, evidence the prosperous condition of the institution. The report of the librarian, Mr G-. SMitchell, shows a list of 183 subscribers, and the library consists of 29L volumes for circulation, in addition to works of reference, newspapers and periodicals. The reading-room is open every evening, Thursday and Sundav excepted, from 6 p.m. to 10.30 p.m., and on Saturdays the institution is available from 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.

The Committee have already received a aiibsidy of £3O from the Provincial Government, and an application has been forwarded for a further sum of £IOO as the proportion falling to Charleston of the £2OO voted by the Council in aid of public libraries on the "West Coast, The Committee conclude by congratulating the public on the successful introduction of an institution which supplies amusement and instruction, while, in point of Utility, it is unequalled on the Coast. We can only add a hope that the flourishing condition an'l high character of the institution may be maintained under any future committee, serving as a most commendable example of what may be accomplished by unity of action and an uusel'ish desire to promote the well-being of a community It is matter for regret that the Westport Committee, though poss?ssing a superior advantage in point of a larger resident population, should have been unable to secure, for its local institution, a similar measure of popularity. At the same time we arc happy to state that efforts are in progress to vitalise the Westport Athenaeum ; additional subscribers are being obtained, and, we believe, though progressing slowly, a move has been made in the right direction. United action on the part of the community is alone required to render the Athenreum a very valuable means of affording amusement and instruction to all classes of the people.