THE ATHENÆM.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 142, 20 June 1881, Page 2

THE ATHENÆM.

TO TUB EDITOR OF THX EVENING POBT. Sir — May I use your columns to beg the Athenaeum Committoo to publish their annual statement and balance-sheet before tho adjourned annual mooting is held, so that wo may have an opportunity of considering it in connection with the proposal to enter the money market again ? They should in their statement explain the reason of the sadden resolution come to some time ago to close the reading rooms on Sunday afternoons. During the sitting of Parliament, a number of subscribers, of whom I am one, have their week-day evenings fully employed, and reading-rooms are not open on Sundays, can get nothing for their subscriptions daring the winter months. The library is a disgrace to Wellington for meagreness in anything bat second-rate novels ; and you are fortunate if yon find a magazine to take oat less than six months eld. For the latter lam not blaming the committee, who doubtless do their best, but lessening the usefulness of the reading-room will not lengthen the subscription lint. I am, &c, SrjBSCBIBKB. Wellington, 18th June. 1881.

What legal gentlemen would call a nice point arose before the Judge in Chambers at Cliristchurch on Friday last in connection with the Tararua disaster. It was as to which of the adult members of a family died first, as upon this rested the rights of certain relations. Hia Honor, however (says the Press), held with Mr. Harper that the rule ef law laid down at Home in such oases was the correct one, viz., that it must be taken that the strongest survived the longest in case of a, wreck.