NEWTON LITERARY ASSOCIATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3122, 19 July 1867, Page 3

NEWTON LITERARY ASSOCIATION.

The first annual meeting of members oE the Newton Literary Association was held at the flail, Newton, last evening. There was a moderate attendance. Dr. Kidd, President of the Association, occupied the chair. The Chairman, in introducing the business of the meeting, said he feared the attendance was somewhat diminished, owing to the brief notice given. He had himself only been informed of the meeting taking place that evening through the newspapers of the day ; »nd many others would no doubt be unable to attend on no short » notice. As the business w*s only of a routine character, however, it was quite competent to proceed with it. He felt little doubt the report would afford members all the required information respecting the Society, and therefore begged to call upon the Secretary to present it. Mr. Ellis (Secretary) then read the following :— " First Report op the Newton Litbkary Asso-

CIATION. "In presenting the first report of the Newton Literary Association, your committee beg to congratulate the members on the comparative progress the {society has made since its formation; at the same time they cannot but feel that the depression of the times has hindered; to a great extent, a stall inore marked advancement " In connection with the Association, a discussion and essay class has been formed for the mutual benefit of its members ; the avernge number of members attending has been twenty-five. The following subjects have been brought before the class and entered into by the members with great spirit:'Was the Resistance to Charles the First Justifiable?' *The Federation of the Australasian Colonies,' ' Capital Punishment,' * Should the Education of Children be Compulsory?' • Eeaponaible Government in the Provincial Council : is it Expedient ?' and others. " There has also been formed an elocution class, which meets every Wednesday evening ; the number of members attending amount to about 15. " The library for circulation and reference comprises about 500 volumes. The number circulated during the first half T year has been 368. " The reading-room is supplied with the daily local papers Home News, Illustrated London News, Fun, Punch, London Society, and a number of other papers , and periodicals. The room is open every evening from half -past six iill ten, and a goodly number of members avail themselves of the privileges afforded. " There have been two lectures of the_ present course delivered, one by the Bishop o£ New Zealand, on the South Sea Islands, and the other by the Rev. D. Wallis, on 'Pulmonary Consumption : its Cause, Nature, and Cure.' There 'have also been one entertainment, at which Mr. J. Varty and Mr. T. M. "KiDg contributed largely to.,., ttie' interest of the meeting— and the committee wish ~"

to tender their thanks to those gentlemen, coupled with the vocalists and instrumentalists — aud two peony readings, supported dy the members of tbe Association and other friends. "the income of tbe Association for the half-year —from December to June 30 —amounts to £43 6r Id., and the expenditure to £40 10s. 5d., thus leaving a balance of £2 15i. 8d. in the treasurer's hands." Mr. G. T. Kbctlky moved tbe adoption of the report, remarking that, notwithstanding the bad times alluded to, the report of the Newton Literary Association was not a bad one. It had lived in the bad times, and still existed, with a balance in the treasurer's hands, which was very creditable, Mr. Ross begged to second the adoption of the report. Two members objected to the passing of the financial p»rt of the report, on the ground that it was not sufficiently explicit, and suggested that 1 it should be omitted, with a view of ' referring it « committee. One of the members »rgued tf^ t misrepresentation existed with regard ' w e rj. em prance Society and the Litsrar- Sooie ty whioh were frequently viewed as o^ jf e WQuld f -^ if . BQ arranged that the matt*- could be undo rstood, and that the public coo^ a tell how tney Htooi Mr. Holdsf^ explained that the Temperance Society ow^ tne h a u . and jf they to separate themselves from that body, they would be oom^i6lled to pay a rental, for which some'penon would *.*ve to be responsible. Under existing ciroumstances, they possessed all the benefits of a hall, and left the secretary of the society to make the best division of the receipts. The Chairman then submitted the following proposition : — " That the report now read be adopted, lubjeot to the accounts being audited." Mr. Holdship was opposed to the latter part of the proposition, and the consent of the mover and;, seconder having been obtained to its withdrawal, on the understanding that the financial affairs of the society would be audited, the adoption of the report was put to the meeting, and carried. The meeting then proceeded to elect officers for the ensuing year, with the' following result : — Patron : His Hpaor the Superintendent. President: Bev. Robert Kidd, LL.B. Vice-president: George Holdahip, Esq. Treasurer : Mr. Ellis. Secretary : Mr. Jones. Committee : Messrs. Aicken, Shalders, G. T. Keetley, Swinnerton, Page, Redfearn, and Hobson. Messrs. G. T. Keetley and Green were elected auditors ; and a cordial vote of thanks having been passed to the President (Dr. Kidd) for his valuable services in promoting the interests of the Association during the past six months, the proceedings. tex» minated.