HAWERA INSTITUTE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 62, 13 November 1880, Page 3

HAWERA INSTITUTE.

A special meeting of the committee was held on Thursday evening, for the purpose of considering the present financial position o£ the mefcihifce. Mr. White, vice-president, occupied the chair, and there were also present — Messrs. Bate, I. Bayly, King, Thomson, and Duflill.

The Chairman explained that the institute was now about J2O in debt, and it would be for the committee to say what steps should, be taken under the circumstances. As they were aware, the subsidies had been withdrawn from all reading rooms, znh cojaseguenily the committee were iv a different position to what they would have been, had they received the subsidy, as they expected at the time they were elected. Mr. Bate considered that a public meeting should be called, and that if the public did not support the committee, they should' resign. If the public refused to come forward an& support tiieio, it was clear they could not carry on. For his part, he was quite willing to pay his share of any liability that had been contracted up to that tune, but he did not feel inclined to go any further. He would move that a public meeting be called, and that, failing proper support, the committee should tender its resignation . When they were elected, they did not anticipate a withdrawal of the subsidy.

Mr. Thomson remarked that if a public meeting were called, it was probable that only the members of the committee would be present, as was the case at the yearly meeting, when the public were repres nted by three gentlemen, one of whom lived at "Wanganui, and another at New Plymouth. The Chairman thought they should endeavor to carry on for some time longer. They had hitherto been liberally supported by the public ; they had got a good deal in subscriptions, and one or two entertainments which had been given in aid of the institute were very siiccessful. He was opposed to acting hurriedly, because, in any case, the committee would be liable for the next six months for magazines and papefy He advocated that a further appeal sfoanld be made to the public before any decided action was taken.

Mr. King thought that if Mr. Willis was acquainted with their financial position, he might knock some of the magazines and papers off at once. He would move that the following magazines and papers be knocked off *.— Quftxterly Review , Scotsman, Queen, Nation, Home News, Illustrated News, Punch, Lloyd's Weekly, New York Illustrated, Belgravia, Comhill Magazine, Blackwood's Magazine, Macmillan's Magazine, London SocietyThere was no subsidy, and they would have to reduce their expenditure at once. He agreed vfith the chairman that subscription listß should ba brought round, or entertainments got up. They had been elected for twelve months, and he considered it would be cowardly, were they to resign. As a last resort, they might appeal to the Town Board for a 6mall grant. The institute had been built for the good of the public, and in other places institutes received grants from the town boards and borough councils.

Mr. Bayly considered all the money raised by the Town Board would be required for the streets.

Mr. Thomson thought they ought to take round subscription lists, and meet afterwards.

Mr. Dufnll said that it would be wise to prepare a balance-sheet, and take it round with subscription lists.

Mr. Bayly said that if the committee vjant. Yovmd, they ought to ask fov as xntich subscriptions as ■would keep the institute going for twelve mouths.

After some further discussion, the Chairman moved, and Mr. Thomson seconded, that an appeal should be made to the public; before any reductions wei-e made.

The other propositions, not being seconded, fell to the ground, and the chairman's amendment was carried unanimously.

The committee agreed to canvass the district immediately, two of them taking it in turns.