DUNEDIN ATHENAEUM

Evening Star, Issue 19778, 31 January 1928, Page 10

DUNEDIN ATHENAEUM

ANNUAL MEETING The uioiuueia ui tne Dunedin Auueiiifium aim alec names' insiiiuie ueia Dneir annual meeiing last evening, v'£ a • At. raiuer presiding over a goou attendance. in moving iue adoption ui tne annum report, xJv isiuer sum; " 1 am sure mat it is a matter oi general regiet mat our cuainnau inn rweu wmurou) is, imuugu indisposition, unaoie to preside over mis meeting. it is ■goon, noivever, to unuw mat Mr vamoroli lias made a good recovoiy irom ms recent unless, mm mat ms services will ue avaiuune as a mem nor m committee uiinug me ensuing year. me report presented uy tne committee seems to mo to present many matures, upon wmen, no memueis oi me Auiiemeum, you nave icusoii to congratulate me nuuiuer oi mourners mis meieuseu suoStantialiy. Allowing lor wimurawals, tne legister oi suuscrioers snows an increase oi iiw lor me year, wnne me ciioii receipts snow an advance ol r,_'o_. mesu

ngures meiuseivoo are auuicicut testimony to tile increasing pudne lav or siiovva our institution, xii mis connection it is to ue. noted Unit tne services ol tile Atneu<eiim are vallied not uiuy ey our own citizens, mit many outside Jduiiediu. it is interesting to uuserve mat among mesu suuscrioers are several Aorta isuiiin residents, and mat tneir numUer leiius to increase, mey are kept continuously m touen wim tne xvtnemeuni; since, mourn uy month, lists oi recent additions am [lusted to mem. me iaci mat leaders may now nave any uouw or magazine reserved, and may aim outrun additional wonts, is evidently esteemed as a great privilege uy lire general uouy or members, wur receipts mini tins source alone exceeded mu during me [last year. Ue are aware mat some criticism lias been levelled at me system, but would point out mat evurymuig mat is possiule is dune by me committee to meet the needs oi the members. As many as twelve copies ol the more popular works ul certain authors are procured, in this regard the committee regrets the long waiting list lor such now wonts as ‘ Bitter Heritage,' by ruargarct Pooler, and ’By Bequest,’ by Hthel M. Dell. All available copies in town have been bought up. \Vith regard to the criticism that our readers devote themselves chiclly to works ol fiction, it is ul interest to note that Lawrence’s • Revolt in the Desert ’ has been reserved seventy times, and that at present there is a waiting list of eighteen. " i lie magazine department shows signs of increasing popularity, and this extends to such magazines of serious type as ‘ flic Contemporary Review,’ ‘ Blackwood’s Magazine,' and ‘ Chambers’s Journal.’ The committee is somewhat perturbed at the lact that, in the reading room, thieving and mutilation of magazines are still prevalent, and would appeal to members to assist in checking these malpractices. Sj far as the committee is concerned, it is determined that any delinquent who may bo discovered will be dealt with as'rigorously as the law allows. It, is a matter of gratification that the members make so much use of the rooms adjoining the leading room, and that the Dunedin Draughts Club has practically decided to nnike these rooms its headquarters. This, in itself, means a substantial increase m our membership. . “As showing the desire of Dio committee to increase in every way possible the use of the Athemeum buildings, 1 note that even the downstairs rooms arc receiving attention. A general tidying-np is in progress; the complete renovation is only a matter of finance. For Die present, however, the committee thinks it wise to concentrate upon the provision of the best services possible in the library and rending mom. Thus during the past year a modern book issue desk, bridge tables, a new draughts table, and new lounge chairs have" been added to our furniture, while two moms used by the staff Imve been renovated and so made much more comfortable. Such non-recurring expenditure upon improvements amounted to LToU. 1 am certain that all members are agreed that the general prosperity ol our institution is due to the unremitting attention and unfailing courtesy of our librarian, Mr Greenwood, and his capable staff. Jhe committee is pleased to note that Mr Greenwood’s broadcasting talks with reference to current literature meet with acceptance, and are of undoubted advantage to the Athemeum. .1 anticipate confidently that through his zeal and general enthusiasm the splendid increase in membership will be maintained, and even surpassed, in the year upon which wo now enter.” Mr H. W. Mitchell referred with pleasure In the improvements which bad recently been carried out to the buildings of the institution, and he also paid a tribute to the excellent wonc of the librarian (Mr H.‘Greenwood), owing to whoso efforts many now books had been brought in. Mr D. H. Rogers also spoke appreciatively of Mr Greenwood’s services, and mentioned that very little change liad taken place in the Athemeum until within the last few years. The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Office-bearers were elected as lollow; —President, His Excellency Sir Charles Fergusson; vice-president, Dr J. R. Elder; secretary. Mr W. Alexander; lion, treasurer, Mr J. M. Paterson; committee—Messrs J. L. Salmond, E. Cameron, J. M. Callaway, A. C. Stephens, J. A. Fitzgerald, A. Watt, J. Fleming, Dr G. E. Thompson, and

Dr Dickie; subscribers’ auditor, Mr V E. D. Thomson.

After some discussion it was decided that the rates of subscription remain unaltered.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the staff, whose capabilities won warm approbation.