NELSON LITERARY INSTITUTION.

The Annual General Meeting of the members of thia Institution was held in the Reading-room, on Tuesday, the 12th instant. The chair having been taken by the President, Mr. D. Sclanders, the Secretary, Mr. E. W. Stafford, read the following Report :— Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen —The Committee appointed at the last General Meeting of the Memberi of the Nelson Literaty and Scientific Institution, have now to make their Annual Report. It is a source of great gratification to the Committee to be able to state that the affairs of the Institution, during the year ending the 30th June last, evince a marked improvement; presenting, both in the number of members and the amount of receipts, a most satisfactory contrast to preceding ones. Believing that the success of an Institution of this character mainly depended upon the circumstance that a considerable proportion of the community was interested in its maintenance, the Committee were induced to attempt the experiment of reducing the amount of the annual subscription, in the hope that an additional number of members might thereby bs obtained. The annual subscription has accordingly been reduced to 3s. a quarter, or 10s. per annum if paid in advance. An annual payment of £1 for seven years, or a donation of £5, constituting the subscriber or donor a member for life. This alteration of the annual subscription has been attended with complete success, as is declared by the fact, that out of the whole number of fifty-six new members who have joined the Institution during the past year, fifty-one have done so since the Ist October last, when this alteration commenced; the great majority of which new members display a warm interest in the prosperity of the Institution. The Committee are also enabled to report that, exclusive of the magazines and other periodicals annually received, a considerable addition has been made to the library, amounting to 188 volumes, many of which consist of standard libraries, comprehending a variety of valuable work* by well-known author*. The sum of £60, being the balance of a donation of £100 originally contributed by the New Zealand Company on the formation of the Institution, has been received during the paßt year, and this amount has been expended ill the purchase of works of the description best calculated to give a permanent value to a library founded on the principle of becoming a source of public utility to the settlement, and which, whilst endeavouring to meet the requirements of the present inhabitants, has for its principle aim that of supplying the means of information and amusement to the rising generation, who, without some institution of an analogous character, would necessarily sustain a very great deprivation. An arrangement has been made with the present librarian, whereby the Institution will be open to the members daily from ten o'clock, a.m., to five o'closk, p.m., thus increasing the facility of access to the library. A catalogue of all books at present contained in the library is being formed, and when completed, will be printed for the use of the members. Many works belonging to the Institution having been at various times taken out and retained by members, and by persons who have ceased to be members, all persons having any such works in their possession are earnestly requested to return them to the librarian with as little delay as possible. The following is the financial return for the year ending the 30th dty of June, 1851 — 4 ». d.

On the motion of Mr. Travers, seconded by Mr. J. P. Robinson, the Report was adopted. A ballot then took place for office-bearers for the ensuing year, when the following gentlemen were elected :—President, Mr. Sclanders; Vice-President, R«v. T. D. Nicholson ; Secretary, Mr. Stafford ; Treasurer, Mr. Jenkins; Committee, Messrs. Elliott, Robinson, Dillon, Travers, and Ogg. A vote of thanks was then given to the gentlemen who had delivered lectures in the Institution during the past year.

Deceit.— When once a concealment or deceit has been practised in matters where all should be as fair and open as the day, confidence can never be restored, any more than you can restore the white bloom to the grape or plum that you have once pressed in your hand. How true is this, and what a neglected truth by a great portion of mankind! Falsehood is not only one of the most humiliating vices, but, sooner or later, it is certain to lead to the most serious crimes.

ly balance in hands of Treasurer on the 30th of June, 1850' 8 8 3 ly amount of Subicriptious receded from the Ist July, 1850, to the 30th of June, 1851 30 J 0 ly receipts from sales of Newspapers 2 0 O ly do. from Classes 4 10 O ly do. from attendance on Lectures 0 IT S ly do. bespeaking Works 0 1 0 ly do. from New Zealand Company 6o 0 0 j£los 18 9 £ s. d. ?o salary and commissions to Librarian 14 9 4 i\> repairs to Institution 0 5 O i"o shelves to Library 0 5 0 ?o Ladd for Brick Work to Foundation, and Chimney 8 5 0 ?o Candles, Firewood, &c 1 6 5 fo Morrison and Sclanders, as per bill 8 4 3 Co do. do. on account 7 0 0 ro Smith and Elder for Book 60 0 0 ro balance in hands of Treasurer 6 3 9 jtflO6 18 9