NELSON INSTITUTE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 49, 26 February 1875, Page 4

NELSON INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting of the members of the Institute was held on Wednesday night, when the office-bearers of last year were re-eleoted. The following report was brought up by the Secretary and adopted :— In presenting their annml report, the Committee are not able to congratulate tbe subscribers upon the progress of the Institute during the past year, the number of the subscribing members baying indeed diminished to a considerable extent, namely, from I£21 £ 2 in December, 1873, to 126 in December, 1874. The main cause of this falling off is sufficiently evident in the inability of the Committee to provide, with the small amount of funds hitherto at their command for the purpose, an attractive supply of new works in addition to the ample selection of the best periodicals wbich they have fortunately been able to provide. The prolonged illness of the late librarian having compelled the Committee to make other provision for the performance of his duties, they took the opportunity of effecting a considerable reduction Jn the yearly expenses of tbe Institute), by engaging the services of a librarian fan the afternoon and evening only, at a greatly reduced salary. The saving thus effected will enable the Committee henceforth to provide a steady supply of new and popular literature, which they trust willadd largely to the number of subscribers, and thereby place the Committee in a position to make the Institute' much more attractive to tbe general reader then it has hitherto been in their power to do. They are glad to say jthat little inconvenience appears to have been caused to members by the reduction in tbe number of hours during which the present librarian gives his attendance, and they consider themselves fortunate in having secured the services of a gentleman whose love of neatness and order, and whose unfailing courtesy, eminently fit him for for the office he has undertaken. The Committee appeal to the friends of education of all classes to assist, by placing their names on the roll of subscribers, tbe efforts wbich the Committee are now making to raise the Nelson Institute to the position which it undoubtedly ought to occupy in a town containing so considerable a population. Without tbat assistance, tbe exertions of tbe Committee must continue to be comparatively unavailing. MUSEUM. The Museum Committee report tbat the Museum is in good order and repair, and that tbe number of visitors has very considerably increased during the laat few months. The following specimens have been added during the laßt year by purchase :— A carved prow pf a large Maori canoe, A model of a smaller canoe, A copy of the original edition of Fox's Book of Martyr?, io good preservation. A facsimile of the death warrant of Charles I. has been presented by Mr Frebble. A small specimen of " Ravellia Hectori," known at. the •* vegetable sheep," lound at Tarnda'o, has been presented by Mr John Eerr, through Captain Kougti. A Lirge butterfly, «■ DanaLi Bernice,'' common in America, but of recent appearance in New Zealanl, Australia, and Tap mania, whtre it appeared simultaneously, Tbe Committee having voted a sum for a collector bqpe to be enabled during the, current, year to add a collection of the ferns of the district to the Museum. READING -ROOM, ETC. Tlie re^ding-roop), library, and lobby are now lighted with gas, which is a manifest improvement, and the building generally, owing to the large expenditure in repairs, is now in a very satisfactory condition, and will, witbout much additional expense, laßt for some years.