THE LEYS INSTITUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 89, 14 April 1905, Page 3

THE LEYS INSTITUTE.

THANKS OF THE COUNCIL.

The following report of the Leys Instatute Committee was adopted at the meeting of the City Council last night: —License for hall: Application to be made to the City Council for a license for the hall for public meetings, etc. Pees for the use of the hall: The fw for night meetings to be 7s Gd for a meeting not exceeding one and a half hour ih length, and 10s for any meeting exceeding that time; day meetings to be at a charge of 2s Cd less than night meetingsno meetings to extend beyond ben o'clock v f\\ , The ab °ve charges to include cost of lighting. Ponsonby Literary Society meetings: The society to be allowed the use of the hall at a charge of 2s 6d, being the cost of lighting and cleaning, per night. Series of lectures for winter evinings: The chairman and Councillor Parr to report to next meeting. Subscriptions: Your committee recommend that in the case of two subscribers from one family, the charge be 15s per annum. N.w books: The librarian to be authorised to purchase new books to a value not exceeding the amount received in subscriptions to the lending library, pending the appointment of the committ c of management, and report to each meeting of committee the number and titles of the books purchased. (Signed.) T. W. Leys, chairman."

The Mayor (Hon. E. Mitchelson) said those councillors who were present at the opening of the Leys Institute must have been extremely pleased that tincouncil had joined the trustees to enable that institution to be started long before it would otherwise have been. He thought it but fitting that the council should show some appreciation of the great services that had been rendered in that connection by Mr. T. W. Leys. The institute was not only a credit to the council and the city, but also to the whole colony. (Applause.) When they found a gentleman possessed of such pubic spirit as Mr. T. W. Leys, one who id not wait until he had pased away, ut gave freely during his life, such philnthropy shoutf be duly recognised, and •ncouraged. It was not only the liberal lonation made by Mr. Leys that they hould fa?l thankful for, but the amoun. »f zeal and energy he had shown in workng to ensure the success of the institute. Mr. Leys had put his whole heart into lie work (applause), and spent no end f time in that work. TV Mayor then moved, "That the Aucl land City Council desires to place on record, and to convey to Mr, Thomson Wilson Leys, the very iigh and grateful appreciation of the body corporate of the Mayor, councillors. \nd citizens of the city of Auckland of 'lis generosity in supplementing the *unds of the Leys trust for the establishment of the Leys Institute in Pononby, in the city of Auckland. The acumulation of the trust funds would not >aye sufficed for many years to come, 'mt a public desire having been express<l for a public library in Ponsonby, Mr. pys voluntarily came forward with the sndsome oiler to pay half the total cost f erecting, furnishing, and equipping he Institute . He also undertook to advance any sum that might be necessary u o enable the trust to pay its half, so hat the wishes of his late brother might '>c given effect to without delay, and in in adequate manner. The City Council roviding the site, Mr. Leys further asisted most generously hi stocking the r nstitute. donating 4400 volumes, and iot sparing either time, money, or peronal effort in furnishing the Institute 'or the benefit of the city, and Ponsonby n particular. Such large-hearted inter•st in the social, moral, and intellectual well-being of the citizens calls for due '•ecognition, and the City Council is •oicfng the unanimous sentiment of the vliole body corporate ; n recording a most '-earty vote of thanks to Mr. T. W. Leys 'or his great generosity, and in express- : ng to him the utmost good wishes of lie people that what he has assisted in naugurating for their benefit he may see -arried on to a successful issue, such as he desires."

Mr. J. T. Julian seconded the motion. Mr. L. J. Bagnall, in supporting th •notion, said as a member of the com nittee hi? could vouch for the good wor''one by Mr. Leys. It was pleasing t' -pp the advantage that was already beinr 'nken by residents of Ponsonby of institute just opened. Already it wa' "vidently much appreciated. Mr. John Court was glad the council was taking steps to acknowledge the gift the people of Ponsonby. Mr. Leys b' 'tis generosity had provided accommoda 'Inn for both young and old. It 'was pleasing to see the crowd of young people who already were taking advantage of the institute. Mr. S. C. Brown spoke in similar lines. Mr. John McLeod said Mr. T. W. Leys had nobly seconded the efforts of his 'irother, Mr. William Leys. Auckland had reason to be grateful for the gene T o<*ity of its citizens. Wh»n they thought of the gifts madV? by Grey, Campbel'. Mackelvie, Costley, Elam, Boyd, Mac kecknie, Wolfe (to the Charitable Aid Board), and the two Leys, they ha<* much to be thankful for. M*. A. J. Entrican supplemented the remark)* already made by adding tha* Mr. T. W. Leys took the liveliest interest in the welfare in the institute. He had already arranged for a coursp of lectures ''uring th? winter months, and a Debat ing Society had already been started. Mr. Entrican hoped the council would see its way to open a similar institution somewhero in the vicinity of Karangahape Road, as that was a very populous district. The otb?r night every table in 'bp Leys Institute was occupied by young people. Mr Julian considered that Aueklanderg should be proud that they had like Mr. T. W. Leys amongst the citiz°ns. Mr. M. Casey also testified how well thp institute was already appreciated. The motion was then adopted witk applause.