ALEXANDRA LIBRARY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 369, 5 December 1876, Page 6

ALEXANDRA LIBRARY.

The annual meeting of subscribers to above institution was held on 2Tth ultimo. The attendance was good, and Mr J. 0. Chappie, President, occupied the chair. After some routine business, the President submitted the following statement of the year's proceedings. REPORT. Gentlemen, —The Committee have to report that since their election to office, on Nov. 8, 1875, they have held seven meetings for the dispatch of business, the attendance being small in most instances, We have forwarded to the Education Board the sum of L 25 for the purchase of books; during the year 157 volumes have been added to our stock at a cost of L4l 18s. The Eiucation Board is still due us the sum of L 7 11a 6d. A sub-committee was appointed in April last to select books up to this amount from a catalogue sent us, but from some unexplained cause no action was taken in the matter. The Committee in November last discussed the advisability of supplying eaoh subscriber with a latch key ; and the only reason it was not given effect to was the expense. We consider the subject worthy of reconsideration. The Library has been frequented by non-subscribers and children, newspapers being continually missed. It came to our knowledge some time since that the deeds for the ground on which the Library stands were never obtained from Mr Watkins, so the President took it on himself to,write to that gentleman on the subject, and received an answer. It is necessary that the new committee take some action in the matter. The Committee commenced with a balance to their credit in the Bank of New Zealand of L 63 15s 6d. The gross receipts for the year were L 29 8s 6d ; while the expenditure was L 47 Is, leaving a balance at Bank of L 46 3s. . The President here explained that their secretary and librarian had sent in his resignation as he could not attend to the duties owing to other engagements. The resignation had been accepted, which fact accounted in some measure for so many subscriptions being in arrears, On the motion of Mr Theyers, seconded by Mr W. Robertson, the report was adopted, the Committee thanked, and the following gentlemen elected as a committee

for the ensuing year, viz : Messrs R. Finlay, Simmonds, W. Robertson, Ratcliffe, R. Golding, J. 0. Chappie, W. Theyers and J. M'Kersie. A' vote of thanks to the chair brought the subscribers' meeting to a close, • The new Committee then met to elect their officers, the result being as follows : Mr Chappie, re-elected President ; Master W. A. Chappie, appointed Secretary, Librarian and Collector ; Mr Theyers, reelected Treasurer.

The secretary was instructed to write the secretary of the Alexandra Brass Band, asking for their services on the night of Ist January, 1877, it being intended to give a benefit concert and ball in aid of the Library fund.

Resolved that Mr Ratcliffe be instructed to obtain a lock and fifty latch keys, and place a lock on the Library door as early as possible. This concluded the business, and a vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close.