AKAROA LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2973, 22 July 1870, Page 3

AKAROA LITERARY INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the •have Institute, was held in the Reading Rrom. Akaroa, Town Hall, on Tuesday even■inffthe 19th inst, under the presidency of Mr W Townsend. After the dispatch of the nsual routine business, the Secretary, Mr W. M-Donald, read the retiring committee’s annual report, which was as follows : « Your Committee have much pleasure in their ninth annual report of the progress and proceedings of your Institute during the past year. « Your Committee, immediately after the last annual meeting, commenced to organise the necessary arrangements for the “Winter Evening Entertainments.” These were again eminently successful, and have added considerably to the receipts of the Institute. “Your Committee have to cordially and thankfully acknowledge the very kind and valuable assistance afforded by the ladies and gentlemen of the Akaroa Musical Society; their untiring exertions in the instrumental •nd vocal parts of the several programmes were appreciated by attentive and delighted Thfflibrary has been moderately attended daring the year. Visitors introduced by members have frequent!.', availed themselves of the privileges of the Institute. « A sum of £ls was sent to England for new books, which arrived by the Ceres and are now just to hand. “ The books in the library are in general rood order; files of the daily papers have been kept, also the Illustrated London News, Punch, and Australasian. <■ Your committee have also to report that, in connection with the Winter Evening Entertainments, they are enabled to offer a prize for the best essay upon the advantages of “ Literary Institutes as a means of Education,” this, they hope, will cause a feeling of emulation and competition among the residents of the Peninsula, and be a means of still further extending the usefulness of your institute. , . , “Your committee have to acknowledge with thanks the following donations of books and papers to the library daring the year : From Mr John Watson, 15 volumes, unbound, of the “ Colonial Church Magazine;” from Mr S. Watkins, 13 volumes French and Latin works; from Mr J. D. Garwood, “History of my Religions Opinions,” Judy, Public Opinion, and other home papers; from Mr Geo. tcarbrough, 6 volumes new novels; from Mr E. Noonan, 3 volumes, “Don Quixote, 1801 from Mr George Armstrong, Hansard and “Papers of General Government;” from the Lyttelton Times and Press, their respective daily papers. “ Your committee hare to report a slight increase of subatribers, notwithstanding the general prevalent dulness and depression of trade through the year. The number of members is now about 40. “ Yon committee in condos!oft bare much pleasure instating they hare worked harmoniously together, and trust their successors in office will be as fortunate daring their term of office. The following is the treasurer’s (Mr J. D. Garwood) financial statement for the past year, ending Jnly 15th, 1870;—Total receipts, as per vouchers, £SB 18s fed; by cub payments, as per Touchers, £52 12s 6d ; balance in hand, £6 6s. “ William M’Dohald, Secretary.” The report as read, was unanimously adopted. On the proposition of Mr S. Watkins, seconded by Mr W. Sims, it was rewired, that in future the financial year of the Institute should close in December, and the annual meeting of subscribers be held during the first week in January in each year. The fqUpwing gentlemen were elected officers of tfiejnstitute for the present year President, Mr S. Watkins; Vice-president and Treasurer, Mr J. D. Garwood ; Secretary and Librarian, Mr W. M’Donald; Committee, Her, W. Aylmer, Rev. S. D. Green, Messrs H. Billens, C. W. Bridge, J. Daly, E. C. Latter, R. Nooman, W. Sims, W. Townsend.