LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 99, 1 February 1868, Page 4

LITERARY INSTITUTE.

annual meeting was called for Tuesday evening last; but after waiting nearly an hour, the only persons present were the Treasurer, Secretary, one of the Committee, and two persons who represented the gene-, ral public. Mr. A. Dobson took the chair, and read the following report: — In presenting the report of the second year’s proceedings of the . Blenheim literary Institute, your Committee have to state that they have not teen supported during the past year by members in such a way as to enable them to establish or extend their "operations! ; “.The number of members hasbeen as follows : 7— YeSirly members, 8 ; half-yearly members, first half, 17 ; half-yearly members,. second Half, &; eight members for single 'and ,three Subscribers to reading room tor single months

“ The greatest number of members at any one time has been about thirty, and part of the time there have been only about sixteen members. “ Under these circumstances the attendance at the Reading Room has been so small that it has been impracticable to obtain continuously the services of any honorary librarian. “ During the winter season a series of lectures and readings were given by various gentlemen, and well attended. Several of them were delivered in the Council Chamber, througn the kind privilege of his Honor, the president of the Institute. The small price of admission to these lectures has, however, prevented any large amount of funds from being raised by this means, so that the Institute is still in debt to the amount of about £ls; and your Committee must impress upon the public, that unless they come forward as members more generally, so as to form a society of about fifty members at least, it will not be practicable to carry out the work. “During the past year the Committee have made several reductions in the periodicals and newspapers supplied, and they now resign their charge.”

It was felt by those -present that no course could be adopted with so small an attendance; and on the motion of Mr. J. Nosworthy, seconded by Mr. John Williams, it was resolved, — “ That the meeting be adjourned forone month, and that the officers be requested to continue in office until that time.”