KASEBY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 700, 17 September 1875, Page 2

KASEBY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORWOPONDENr.) September 13. The Athenaeum Committee at their last meeting resolved to introduce chess and draughts to the reading-room. This will ba the means of drawing more support, it is haped. A new lot of books has been added to the collection in the library. This consignment consists chi.fly of books of a t nature, such as works of fiction, and interesting tales of travels and adventures. Hitherto the class of books partook more of tae solid nature than of the light; and, seeing the very meagre amount of support tendered the Atkenaaum, the Committee, no doubt, do wisely to introduce a different class of literature. One would imagine that the business folks were the ones to patronise such institutions, but experience shows that they do not do so—the miners being tha chief readers. It will be easily conceived that they do not require such books as Gladstone' 3 " Ecce Homo," Darwin's "Descent of Man," and such like works, with which the library abounds. Their taste will more likely 'je suited by Ballantyne's works, Nelson's Talcs of the Border, and so forth. Some L(5 worth of books arrived the week before last, and among them some very interesting works of this nature. The money for books to the value of LIC 'b lodged with the Education Board's Secretary. There are at present nearly 400 volumes of exeellently bound works of all descriptions in the library, and with the addition of the lot just arrived, and those ordered, the library would stand pretty searching criticism. On the tables in the reading room almost all the Provincial papers are to be found, and also a few from different parts of the Colony. The Horns representations consist (with the exception of the Homo News,) of the best illustrated papers—the funds of the Institution not being in such a state as to wanant incurring the cost of the supply of any of the leadirg dailies or weeklies. The librarian's salary having been reduced to such a small amount —63 per week—the Committee perhaps can hardly be blamed for the reading-room not alwaj'3 bosn in apple-pie order—a fa* 4 which cannot bo gainsayod. Tin. question a3 to the legal standing of the Institution cropped up at a late meeting of the C<rrmittce, and after consilerab'e "discussion and enquiry it was found that the ru'c? of the institution would not be recognised in a Court of law, that it has no legal constitution whatever. There is nothing to prevent any person from taking away whatever they choose—they might even carry away the building itself, without it being in tha power of the Committee to s*op them. Indeed, one person has set the Committee at defiance, by keeping a work for some 12 months, and refusing evpn to pay his subscription. The Committee feel themselves powerless in the matter. The only institutions of the sort in the IV vincc which have any legal standing, are Dunedin and Cromwell, ([ am no 1 , s'ire aboub Queenstown), and they were constituted by special ordinance of the Provincial Council. It was therefore with considerable satisfaction that the promise of the General Government to bring in a general measure affecting these institutions was received. The promiso was elicited during the passage through tha House of tha Campbelltown Athonroum Management Bill. The Dramatic Club perform on Thursday, in aid of the Hospital funds. Mr Georgo Clarke is to lecture, and the Good Templars are to give a concert in aid of the funds shortly. It is rumored that Pishop Nevillo will open the English Church, juit completed, on Sunday week next, and that the Rev. Mr Penny, of Dunedin, will hive temporary charge of the District until a permanent minister can be obtained. Talking of clerical matters, the generality of Presbyterians in Nnscby were rather disgusted with the result of the question of instrumental music in churches, which was brought up at a late meeting of the Oamaru Presbytery, in which district we are situated. The result of the voting was : For it, 4 ; (against which number our minister voted) against, 7. The only argument tho non-conformists could adduce was that " tho time wasn't come," a very weak argument indeed. When the time was to come they did not seem to have nny concise idea. This is the more unpalatable in Naseby lecauso 1,20 has already been subscribed for tho purchase of a harmonium. ' A rich find of coal by the coal company is roported, but tho new s I am afraid is tea ' goo I totn tiuc.