LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XL, Issue 4030, 24 December 1873, Page 3

LITERARY INSTITUTE.

The quarterly meeting of tho Institute was held at half-past seven o’clock last evening; Dr Powell presiding. There was a considerable attendance. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, after which the hon. sec. (Mr Fyfe) read the following report:—• « Your committee, in presenting, their quarterly report, have to congratulate you on the successful issue of their negotiations with the Public Library Trustees, by which the property of the Institute will be vested in the Superintendent from the new year for the purposes of a public library and reading-room. “The terms of the transfer are that a reading-room and circulating library equal at least to what is to be handed over, both as regards space and number of hooks, &c., shall be constantly maintained, and that such books and periodicals shall from time to time be supplemented and increased so as to satisfy public requirements; also, that the Institution shall be maintained in accordance with the usual and recognised standard of a public library and reading-room. “ The reading-room to be open to the public entirely free of charge, and tho circulating library to be either free or subject to charges not exceeding those at present in force. “Your committee, to guard against the breach, non-observance, or non-performance ot these conditions, have stipulated by special clause in tho deed that it shall be lawful for any person resident in the province of Canterbury to institute legal proceedings to compel the Superintendent to fulfil and observe these conditions, the costa and expenses of all such proceedings to be borne by the SuperintenIt was moved by Mr G. W. Hall, seconded by Mr H. Heskett, that tho report and balance sheet be adopted. The motion was carried. It was moved by Mr Newman, seconded by Mr Bowman —“ That this meeting expresses its satisfaction at the transfer by the committee of the property of the Institute to the Government.” The motion was agreed to. It was moved by Mr Newman, seconded by Mr G, W. Hall, and agreed to—" That this

meeting further desires to record its thanks to the original founders of the Institute, to the very liberal contributors to the funds and library, and also to the shareholders, especially to those who waived their claims for repayment.”

It was moved by Mr Newman, seconded by Captain Wilson, and agreed to—“ That the thanks of the meeting be given to the committee for their services during the past quarter.” A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.