WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 17, 20 July 1881, Page 3

WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM.

? A special meeting and the annual general vaeeting of the subscribers to this institution was held last night, Mr. G. Allen in the chair. The special meeting was held for the purpose of obtaining the consent of the members to tho old mortgage of J66500 on the AtheEsoum being pad off, and a new mortgage of J28250 executed. It was. stated a saving of about 2 per cent, in the rato of interest would be effected by the change. On the motion of Mr. Logan, seconded by the chairman, a formal resolution sanctioning the proposed now mortgage was carried without dissent. The adjourned annual meeting of the members was then held. In opening the proceedings, the Chairman made feeling reference to the loss the Institute had sustained in the death of the President, Mr. Jonas Woodward. On the motion of Mr. L. C. WILBON, seconded by Mr. L. H. B. Wilson, it was resolved that a letter of oondolence be sent to the family of the deceased gentleman The report of the committee, which was taken aa read, stated, in<er alia, that the number of members on the roll was 596, whiob, with 39 life members, made a total mPTibership of 637. This showed a marked falling off as compared with former yoars, and was a matter of much regret to the committee. The average daily attendance in the reading rooms was over 300, and the popularity of this branch of the institute was evidently on the increase— many members being attracted soley by the newspaper and magazine departments. The -visitors introduced by the members during the past year numbered 301. Referring to the retirement of Mr. Logan from the secretaiyship (which he resigned through press of other public duties) , the committoo expres-ed their high sense of the great value of his many services to the Athentßum. Mr. Logan had, with a ehort interval, been the honorary secretary of the institution for some twenty years, and, but for his energy and zeal, it would, on more than one occasion, have ceased to exist. Such disinterested services, as he has rendered, added the committee, could not be too highly esteemed. The committee had considered it advisable to close the reading room on Sundays, the attendance being too Bmall (averaging only some nine persons) to render it worth while keeping the officers in attendance. The report further alluded to the success of the Industrial Exhibition, and referring to the sudden death of the csteemod president, Mr. Jonas Woodward, remarked that he had been actively connected with the varying fortunes of the Athenaeum, and all those who Had been brought into personal contact with him, had been able to appreciate the deop interest he took in every matter oonneoted with the institute, and the selfsacrificing energy displayed on many occasions for its welfare. The Chairman moved and Mr. Logan seconded the adoption of the report. In reply to a question, the Chairman said that it would be impossible in the present finanoial position of the institution to make the reading room free, that being the chief attraction to many persons to bocome members. Mr. Richardson asked whether, if they could not make the rea< ing room free, they could not make it quiet ? There was singing above and singing below. (Laughter.) Mood? and Sankey's hymna might be very refreshing at the proper time, but not when one was reading the Quarterly Review for instance. The Chairman said if they lost the revenue from letting the rooms, they might have to stop tho institution. Members must, therefore, try to submit to the inconvenience alluded to. The report was then adopted. On the motion of Mr. Logan, a vote of thanks was carried to the gentlemen unconnected with the Athenaeum for the assistance they had rendered in oonneotion with the Industrial Exhibition. On the motion of Mr. Henley, seconded | by Mr. Smith, it was resolved that it be an instruction to the new committee to re-open the reading-room on Sundays if deemed advisable. Mr." J. R. George moved, "That this meeting desires to express its appreciation of the valuable services of the permanent officers of the institution." All the subscribers, he said, received every attention from the librarian and sub-librarian it was possible to give, and he thought the officers were worthy not only of a recognition of this sort, but of one more substantial were it in their power to give it. (Hear, hear. ) Mr. H. C. WitiSON seconded, observing that he always found the officers most zealous, and never heard any complaints against them. The Chairman took the opportunity of remarking that he entirely disagreed with an anonymous letter which appeared in one of the papers recently. The election of officers then took place. It was stated that owing to a technical difficulty in the way of making a fresh election, the institution would bo without a president and would bo a vioe-proaident short. Messrs. G. Allen and J. E. Nathan were returned as vice-presidents ; Mr. T. K. Macdonald was re-eleoted treasurer, Mr. T. King was elected eeoretary, and Messrs. Kebbell and Richardson auditors. The following gentle: men were elected on tho committee : — Messrs. G- Didsbury, H. Wilcox, H. F. Logan, J. R. Georgo, J. Riohardson, L. H. B. Wilson, and G. B. Davy. In reply to a question as to the cause of the falling off in the number of members, the Chaiuman said no doubt it was partly due to the bad times and people leaving the town. The Librarian (Mr. Hamilton) said about 40 new members had joined within the last month, and the receipts had been greater than during any previous month that he had been librarian. The Chairman remarked that there was also no doubt they must have some now books. He boliovod that expenditure in this direction would be repaid in tho accession of new members. (Hear, hear.) Mr. George said that tho retiring committee had had this in view, and, if reelected, intended to havo out a box of new books by every mail. (Applause.) The proceedings terminated with tho usual vote of thanks to tho chairman.