BLENHEIM LITERARY INSTITUTE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 228, 30 September 1902, Page 4

BLENHEIM LITERARY INSTITUTE.

THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

A meeting of-the Literary Institute U minittee was held last evening for the purpose of winding up affaivs in connection with the transfer of the property to tho Borough Council.

The report and balance sheet for the nine months ending September 30th were adopted. . The report was as follows: —

" In accordance with a letter received from the Town Clerk, dated the 9th instant, your Committee has convened to night's special meeting for the purpose of electing a Committee of three members to act with a Committee of Management appointed by the Borough Council, and to close up the accounts and do all other acts incidental to the handing over of the Institute property to the Council. Your Committee also desire to report that there has been a decided increase iv the number of members of the Institute during the last nine mo ths : —Number of members in 1900, 68 ; 1901, 76; 1902, 94; thua testifying to the growingpopularity of the library. In 1900, 167 books, at a cost of £18 11s 7d, were added to the library. In 1901, 221 books, at a cost oi £32 Is Bd, were added. During the nine months ending the 30th inst. 250 books have been added at a cost of £40 6s 3d. The balance sheet shows that during the same nine months the actual income was £70 4s 3d, which, added to the balance in hand at the commencement of t!ie year, makes a total income of £103 5* lOd. The balance now carried forward is £10 16s 4d, of which £9 5s was originally donated as a nucleus of a building fund, but has subsequently, with the consent of the dolors, been allocated towards the erection, by the Council, of two lamps, viz., one to be above the main doorway leading into tho library, the other to be above the doorway which wiil lead into the new building. In June last a ratepayer's meeting was held to consider to what public purpose the Coronation grant should be applied, and your Committee is pleased to be able to record that it was unanimously agreed that the grant should be devoted to the erection of a suitable addition to the library. The Borough Council, acting upon the wish of the ratepayers' meeting, agreed to take over the Institute property, and the same was duly vested in the Council subsequently, and the foundation stone of the new building was weli and truly laid by the Hon C. H. Mills on Coronation Day. Iv conclusion, your Committee would recotrmend that a further grant be allocated as early as possible for the purchase of newbooks."

A special vote of thanks was accorded to Mrs Macalister in recognition of the great interest she took in the affairs of the institution when they were at a low ebb.

A special general meeting of sub scribers, called at the instance of the Borough Council, for the purpose of electing representatives on the new Committee of Management, was also held last night. There was a p*oor attendance.

Messrs J. B. Rayner, S. J. Furness aud G. H. Mogridge were the only three nominated to act with the representatives of the Borough Council as the new managing body. Mrs Macalister declined nomination.

A report of the proceedings will come up at the meeting of the Borough Council on Friday night.