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The Star. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1882. THE HAWERA INSTITUTE.

The Ooramitteo of the Hawera Institute have reason to be dissatisfied with the support, either moral or pecuniary, which has been accorded them | for some time past ; and therefore it ! need not be a matter for surprise that they have determined to wash their hands of the self-imposed and somewhat thankless task of endeavoring to provide a reading-room and a subscription library for the inhabitants of the borough. The work connected with the Institute has from its very inception fallen upon the shoulders of some half-dozen gentlemen, who at length, and after repeated endeavors to arouse the interest and to gain the steady Bupport of the leading burgesses, have at last determined to rid themsolvrs of all responsibility in the institution, and to hand orer the affair to the Borough Council. That the decision so arrived at ia a correct one there can be but little doubt. The Institute has for a long time past been languishing for the want of funds, and without money being forthcoming from Borne quarter or another the reading-room may as well be closed, as indeea it virtually is—so far as any comfort to the visitors is concerned—at pi'esent. Tho committee are unable to afford the services of a carekeeper ; and the consequence is that the papers not being filed are speedily destroyed, and the Institute is thereby rendered useless as a place for reference. The library contains a fair selection of the works of many of the leading writers and novelists; but these have been perused by most of the former subscribers, who finding that few or no new works were added, have withdrawn their subscriptions, and of course by bo doing have Btill further crippled the efforts of the committee. It is understood that the Borough Council would favorably entertain the proposition for taking over the conduct of the Institute, thereby relieving the committee from all further trouble -, and as the few gentlemen, and notably Mr. G. V. Bate, the hon. Bee. — who have taken an interest in the matters connected with the institution, will be able to deliver up their trußt free f rpm all -encumbrances or liabilities, theTe should^ bo little or no difficulty experienced in the proposed transfer. The Council is the proper body to have control of the Institute; and the time is ripe for the establishment of not only a reading room, but also a public library. A penny rate would be sufficient to meet current expenses, and would also leave a balance which might bo devoted to the purchase of new books. No time should bo lost by tho committee in transferring the property at once to the Council if they are desirous of obtaining a portion of the Government subsidy for public libraries, as a notice of motion has been tabled by Mr. W. C. Smith, « That tho House resolve itself into a committee to consider an address to Hi 3 Excellency praying that he will recommend the appropriation, this year, of the sum of £6000 for public libraries." Other districts are already up and doing in tho matter, and no doubt promises have been made to many towns which possess public libraries; and it will therefore be necessary for Hawera to at once and without delay put in a claim for a portion of the grant, should it be voted, before it is all allocated.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HNS18820614.2.4

Bibliographic details

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 261, 14 June 1882, Page 2

Word Count
569

The Star. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1882. THE HAWERA INSTITUTE. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 261, 14 June 1882, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1882. THE HAWERA INSTITUTE. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 261, 14 June 1882, Page 2

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