PUBLIC MEETING AT NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 105, 16 April 1881, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT NORMANBY.

A meeting was held on Wednesday evening last, to appoint a committee for a reading-room and library. There were about fifteen settlers present. On the motion of Mr. Gray, Mr. C. E. Gibson took the chair.

The Chairman reminded the meeting that a committee had previously been appointed, but it was thought better to call a puhlio meeting and appoint a fresh committee. He would be happy to receive any suggestions, which those present might have to offer ; so far as he could see there was no other business to bring before the meeting. Mr. Gray proposed that a committee be appointed for the management of the library and reading-room. He drew attention to the fact that the names now proposed were simply added on to those previously appointed. He felt sure that the meeting would approve of those who had been selected.

On the question being discussed of the of the number which it was advisable to have for a quorum, a feeling was shown in favor of a small quorum being appointed, absentees being held responsible for abeence.

The Chairman stated that he had on hand from the old committee about £8. He then proceeded to read out subscriptions promised to the extent of £26 45., which he considered would form a very good start. Upon the whole he thought they had an opportunity of making up a very good selection of newspapers, and a few books would help to add to the attractions of the establishment.

Mr. Yorke proposed that power be given to the committee to decide what number shall form a quorum, He drew attention to the advisableness of having only a small quorum. When any of the members were absent, and it was resolved to carry out anything of which they disapproved, their responsibility would be brought home to them. — The resolution was carried.

Mr. J. Bobson thought the readingroom should not be free. If it was to be attractive, it would have to be fairly well Bupplied with papers, and it was not fair 'to subscribers, to have it so that they might come down to read, and find all the papers, which they needed, taken up by non-subscribers. There were newsSpers, which had come from the Hawera statute to Normanby, with the leaves uncut, which showed that they had never been read. He was in favor of a quarterly subscription of ss. both for the library and reading-room. He would be quite willing to wait until he had something wherewith to found a library, before starting one. The Chairman Btated that, in his opinion, the names on the subscription list were all good for the money for which they were set down. All the names of those on the list were down, for donations of a guinea each, or more.

" Mr. Pitts thought that a smaller subscription would be more likely to attract a greater number of subscribers, and was in favor of a subscription of 2s. 6d. per quarter. He had always found that the books were more sought after than the newspapers, and if ss. were charged, it would be more than the books could be obtained for elsewhere.

Mr. Gray thought that 2s. 6d. would be sufficient. He was in favor of free-trade, and the lowest possible subscription which would support the institution. Mr. J. Eobson said that ss. per quarter for both reading-room and library seemed little enough. It only amounted to a few pence a week, and almost all who really wished it could well afford the amount.

The Chairman thought that it was probable that there would be quite as many subscribers at ss. per quarter— which was less than 6d. per week — as there would be if the smaller amount only was levied. Of course, the committee would be better able to judge how much was really needed after they had gone into the question of ways and means. Mr. Finlayson recommended that they should leave it to the committee to decide what subscription should be paid ; but the meeting might decide whether they would wish the committee to attempt to carry on without any subscription. Mr. Eobson, in order to test the feeling of the meeting, proposed that the library and" reading-room be open to subscribers only; but that members shall have the privilege of introducing a friend, subject to any rules which may afterwards be made by the committee. — Carried. Mr. Lockington thought that it would be necessary for the committee to fix the amount of subscription ; they would soon know what funds they had at their disposal, and would also be able to affix the amount of subscription required to provide lights, firing, and furniture, as well as the books and papers. — The proposal was generally agreed to, but no definite molion was put.

Mr. Yorke moved that the committee continue in office for one year, and shall have powex to add to their number. The mover mentioned that sometimes there was a split in such bodies, and a number of committeemen resigned, when it might become necessary to add to the number. The motion was carried.

Mr. Gray moved, and the chairman seconded, that the reading* room and library be open on Sundays, if the funds at the disposal of the committee shall allow them to do so.

Mr. Rowe, the Chairman, and several others expressed an opinion that the fact of having a quiet room to retire to on Sundays would tend to keep men in small country towns out of the way of many temptations, to which they were otherwise exposed, and believed that if the feelings of those present were enquired into, it would be found that hardly one of them were inclined to oppose its being opened on Sundays; but at the same time, it was possible that the extra expense involved might prevent the committee from opening it. After a vote of thanks had been passed to the chairman, and also to the representative of the Stab, for certain suggestions made re the procuring of New Zealand papers, &0., the meeting closed.

The Australasian states that Grand Flaneur has started ten tunes, has never been beaten, and has won j67945.

Sir M. Hicks-Beach has given notice of a motion censuring the Home Government for its settlement of the Transvaal difficulty.