MECHANICS' INSTITUET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4900, 31 July 1877, Page 6

MECHANICS' INSTITUET.

Tail; annual meeting of tho Mechanics' lustitute was held iu the Mechanics' Institute, High-street, on tho 2'jrd July. There was a very small attendance.—Mr Tonka occupied the chair.

J'lii'ur.T axdßalanx'K siikkt. —Mr. Talbot, tin: Hceretary, read tile aniiu.Vi. report and ij.ilaucc-theet, whicli iihowed ohat at the present time the income of the Institute the current ljcoss expenditure. The indebtedness of the Institute was .C9O :i-, 9,1. •p... * ..•..! >"..iherof subscribers at present was fewer by "J7 than at tin; same time last year. On July 1, Ib'7(i, tho number was .'if) t ; July, 1577, Tho additions madi; to the readin- room and library were considered inadequate. The number of issuua of books during the year was 10,500, in addition to tho circulation of periodicals, &c. The City Council had declined to aid the Institute by a grant of money, but the claiuiij of tho institute: were \i\\yd noon the following grounds : —First. Th-.-Institute is actually ministering a consider

;..i>l'j amount of public benefit, both duveth and indirectly, to the education of the people, by furnishing additional substitute, .•or hurtful dissipation ; and secondly, that rev..'inu!K which partly formerly enabhid tint l.'ioviueial Council to make yranU tu the

Institute are now transferred to the disposal of tho City Council. The sito of lilie Inati- . tuto was considered disadvantageous, and when the committee got the donation of a more eligiblo site, they intended to sell the present site, which would furnish funds to build a suitable edifice elsewhere. A proposed change in the laws of tho Institute wns in contemplation, and notice thereof had been given to subscribers. It was considered desirable to increase tho readingro.,m subscription, which was at present only 2s 6d per quarter, losn than charged by similar institutes elsewhere. Tt was proposed to nr.ike tho charges : Library alone, 2s (id per quarter ; reading-room alone, ,'ss 15:1 per quarter ; for tho use of both departments, Tn per quarter. Tho committee expressed " thoir appreciation of the services which tho secretary has rendered during tho past year, by diligent and intelligent attention to the business of the Institute, and by his willingness to oblige by acceding to all reasonable rcqucßts while faithfully guarding the interesta consigned to his c.ire. Ho has also proffered an arrangement to which the committee moat gladly accede, whereby he relinquishes for the present a portion of his salary for tho benelit of thn Institute, and especially for the library.' . The balance shoot was for the year ending the 30th of Juno last:—Receipts: Received for Institute, £1(32 IS.f 4d ; proceeds of concerts, £2-1 2a ; from Provincial Government, £00; classes, £50 : total, £257 Os -Id. Tho balance due the treasurer was 9a 1 Id, which made the grand total, £287 10.? 3d. Expenditure : Magazines and newspapers, £o5 10s yd ; books bought, £11 Ss 0d ; insurance, £10 10.-J; secretary and incidental expenses, £10G Ss 2d ; gas, £34 7» ; fuel, £5 7s (id ; teachers (classes), £50 ; Upton's account, £23; carpenter's work, £5 Ss ; gastitting, £1 los 10d; miscellaneous items, £1 l'J.s Gd : total, £287 10s 3d. ISlkctiox ok OwiCEiiK. — Mr. Staines moved that Air. 15. Tonka bo president, but Mr. Tonks said his time was so occupied lie could not attend.—Mr. Kessing proposed Dr. Ellis as president. — Mr. Hazard seconded tho motion, which was passed unanimously.— Drs. Kidd, Wallis, and Mr. P. A. Philips woro proposed for vice-presidents.—Dr. Kidd declined, and tho other two gentlemen •vare elected.—Mr. Cawkwell was re elected treasurer, and Dr. Kidd, Messrs. Taylor, Keesing, Oledliill, Clifton, Edwards, Watson, Robinson, Henderson, G. Kvitt, H. Urett, and Blunden wore elected a committee of management. The retiring auditors were rc-eloetcd.