DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

Evening Star, Issue 11454, 23 January 1901, Page 1

DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

The following are the principal clauses in 0 the Committees report for the year ended | December 31: The membership of the institute consists | of 56 life members. 567 yearly subscribers, 1 232 half-yearly, 68 quarterly, 32 youths § yearly, and 23 youths half-yearly ; in all, H 958 members—an increase in membership 6 compared with the preceding year of 75 | members. , ■ a The total income for the year was £1,097 | 8s lid : revenue from all sources during the « previous year being £1,078 7s. The sub-1 seriptions exceed those of last year by £22 a 6s 3d. The Committee regret to notice that « the outstanding subscriptions are somewhat i in excess of the amount shown in the last I report. g There are about 19,500 volumes in the li- a brary. The additions made during the year | numbsr 890 volumes, and are distributed ovci I the following departments of literature :--' | Arts, sciences, and philosophy, 20; bio- | graphy and belles lettres, 70 ; travels and w descriptive works, 61; history, law, and poii-1 tical science, 48 : miscellaneous and cduea- g tional works, 70; works of reference, 65 : | fiction and light literature-, 472 ; religious | works, 15 ; periodicals (bound), 69. The $ usual supplementary catalogue of the boakt | added during the year has been compiled, *nc j! can be obtained by members on application t to the librarian. The magazines and ncws-H papers regularly received are as follow :—B Canadian, 1; British," 116 ; American, 21 :ffl French, 2 ; German, 1; Australian, 20 ; Tas-jf manian, 2; New Zealand, 108; Indian. 2;8 South African, 2 ; Hongkong. 1; total, 276. I Though the practico of cutting out para-B graphs from papers and magazines, and ofi surreptitiously taking out books, is not so! common as it used to be, yet during the! year the Committee have had more than one! case brought under their notice, and thefi offenders have been dealt with in such ui manner as will probably check the repetition! of such acts. The detection of these offences! has been largely due to the vigilance of theß staff. ; ■ ' 1 During the year a proposal to allow non-| subscribers the use of tho institution for a! day or part of a day on payment of a fee of! one penny came up for discussion, and re-fi ceived clfreful consideration at the hands ofS the Committee. The Committee, however, on consulting their solicitor, found tkafc it was not within their power to make any alteration in the rules of the institute. This can only be done by the members themselves, in general meeting assembled. On August 13 Mr Park resigned his position as a member of the Committee in consequence of his having taken up his nsridencefi in Sydney. Mr Munro, being the next! highest on the poll taken at tie last annual! meeting, was appointed to fill the vacancy,! and took his seat in August 'B In November one of the assistants (Mr J.I Harlow), who has Tendered faithful service! to the institution for upwards of nine years.! tendered bis resignation on account of ha\trngj entered into business in Christchurch. Hisl resignation was accepted with regret. f