WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9321, 16 June 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

WELLINGTON ATHENÆUM.

The annual meeting of the members of the Wellington Afchenreum was held on Saturday evening in the reading room of the institution. There were some SO members present, and the president, Mr C. Rous Marten, occupied the chair. Tbe acting-secretary, Mr D. S. Gray, having read the notice convening the meeting, the report and balance-sheet for the past year were taken as read. The following is the report of the committee at the termination of their year of office:—lt will be seen that the total receipts for the year (including last year's balance of £3O 12a 2d) amounted to £564 3s, out of which the sum of £485 18s was for subscriptions. The expenditure amounted to £537 14s Bd, leaving a credit cash balance of £26 Ss 4d, The w orking account shows a debit balance of £46 XU 2d, but this result is muinly accounted for by payments not anticipated amounting to £4l 15s, including a sum of £2B 2s fid for old Corporation rates which bad not been provided for ia connection with the sale of the building. Included iu the liabilities is also an amount of £SO due for (he year to Messrs Lyon and Blair on the old book account. The Committee’s anticipations as expressed in last year’s report with regard to a saving of some £7O for noil-recurrent expenditure have not been fully realised, there being an actual saving of only £47, which was not available for the purchase of new books as expected, owing to its expenditure for old rates, &0., items which were not foreseen. The Committee are pleased to report an increase in the membership, which now stands at 4Soas compared with 437 at the same date last year ; this accession, though gratifying, is still not so large as would be the case if members would take a keener interest in the institution, and make it a personal matter to secure new subscribers. It is proposed to make an addition to rule 4, section 2, which it is hoped will have the effect of inducing new members to joiu, and of seeming prompt payment from subscribers generally ; tbe large amount of overdue subscriptions entailing a considerable amount of extra wok, and hampering the efforts of the Committee to improve the institution. The Committee regret to have to report the loss of the services of Mr A. I. Masters as librarian, who proved himself to be a courteous and thoroughly efficient officer. The vacancy has been filled by the appointment of Mr A. W. Duncan, and of an assistant; this change, without material increase in expense, has enabled the library to be kept open the whole day, an alteration which has been much appreciated by subscribers. The following nominations for the ensuing year have been received : —President, Mr C. Rous Marten; Vice-Presidents, Messrs A. Campbell, F. W. Flanagan and G. Maomorran ; Committee, Messrs H. Beauchamp, J. Burns, W, Ferguson, W. R. Morris, VY. 0 Smythe, W. R. Symons and R. Triggs; Hon Treasurer, D. S. Gray j Eon Secretary, W. Ross, As the number of nominations does not exceed tbe number of offices to be filled, no ballot will be required.—For the Committee, 0. Rous Marten, President. The Chairman, in formally moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, expressed his acknowledgments to the members of tbo institution for having elected him for tbo fifth time to the highest office they had to bestow, viz., that of President to the institution. The fact of his being for the fifth consecutive year elected unopposed to that position was in itself an acknowledgment on the part of the members that # they were satisfied with hie humble efforts to further their interests. Though tbe office of president was an honorary one, it was no sinecure, and he was glad to think he had given satisfaction. Ho was also pleased to see such au excellent and pains* taking committee elected for the past year, and their re-election for the ensuing year was a proof that their services in the past had been appreciated and recognised. He could assure che members that their committee had worked hard in the interests of tbo institution. They had lost from the Committee during tbo past year several prominent members, but be was glad to say that their places bad been adequately filled. Members would observe that the working account showed a debit balance of £46 11s 3d. This, he might explain, was owing to an old difficulty of the past which hung about them. He was, however, gratified to state they bad seen the last of these difficulties, tnd they would not have to refer, in the words of a well known politician, to the “wretched past” again. The Committee had great cause to complain of the want of support from tbe member of the institution, who did cob do what they might towards getting new members If all subscribers bad worked to this end as they should, and as the Committee did, the institution would be flourishing. The indifference shown by members iu this respect was not fair to the Committee, who bad all responsibility thrust upon them. He would urge upon subscribers to make a point of looking after new arrivals in the city, and persuading them to join the institution. It must be a surprise to all that they were still able to meet id that room, for at the beginning of the year fears were entertained of their not being able to continue. It had, however, owing to tbe exertions of the Committee, turned out otherwise. Members should nob expect the Committee to do everything, for he would remind them that tho Executive were only a small body selected for special duty, and were not to be saddled with all the responsibility of getting new subscribers. He must also refer to the dilatoriness of members in paying up their subscriptions. The Committee had to reckon

on a certain income, and if members did not pay up, the Committee were left in a hole, and placed in an unfair position. If the money did not come ia the institution could not be continued, it was his duty to toll their that the Committee had determined to enforce the powers they had with regard to subscriptions in arrears. Members who had not paid up their subscriptions would be suspended from the privileges of institution, and if necessary the Com mittee would put the law into motion to recover the moneys due. This, though unpleasant, was a duty that would have to be done. Members who were a year behindhand with their subscription defrauded the institution of twelve months’ income, so they would oee why the Committee were determined to carry out and enforce the rules regarding subscriptions. Now that they had no valuable property or rents to fall back upon, as formerly, the/ could only look to members’ subscriptions to carry on with, and if those got into arrear the income of the institution would not be sufficient to permit of them continuing. They would remember that in former years a heavy item—commission for collecting subscriptions—used to appear in the I alance-sheefc. This the Committee considered a disgrace to the institution, and set iheir face agaiuat it, considering that if the members had not sufficient interest ia tho institution it was useless endeavouring to carry on. Many complaints had been made as to the want of increased accommodation, but he would remind them that if they had not the money the Committee could not think of adding to the conveniences; if members paid their subscriptions when they were due a deal might be done to extend tbs accommodation. It was with great regret that the Committee had received notice that Mr Masters was about to retire from the librarianship, for be was a model librarian whose place it would be hard to fill. Not being able to offer Mr Masters a larger salary, and as be had obtained a better appointment, the Committee couldnotbut accept his resignation. They had obtained the services of Mr A. W. Duncan in succession to Mr Masters, and he had already proved a most capable librarian. As complaints bad been made about the library not being kept open all day, the Committee bad engaged an assistant librarian, who, though quite a boy, had already proved himself moat capable and fitted for the post. By this arrangement the libraiy was kept open up to 10 o’clock at night. During the year several additions had been made to the periodicals iu toe reading room, and donations to the library had been received from Messrs W. Ferguson, C. F. Richmond, R. S. Ledger, S. S. Downes, and other subscribers : also reference works from the Smithsonian Institute, U.S.A., the Melbourne Exhibition Committee, and the Tasmanian and New Zealand Governments. Members would see that in the balancesheet the value of the books and furniture in the library was put down at £ISOO. This amount was the same as last year, and some might think a reduction should have been made for depreciation. When, however, it was remembered that many works had been repaired and rebound, and a number of new books added, the estimated value would . be seen to be rather under than over the fair value of their property. He felt bound to say that the Committee and members generally were very much indebted to Mr David Gray for having taken np the office of acting-secretary —be had, as they knew, proved a most efficient treasurer, ond as secretary had worked hard and unselfishly In the interests of tho institution. In conclusion, he would move the adoption of the report and balancesheet for the past year. Mr G. Allen seconded the motion, which, after some remarks from various members, was unanimously carried. Oa the motion of Mr G. Allen, a cordial vote of thanks was accorded the honorary auditors, Messrs G. M. Kebbell and D. T.

Stuart, for their past services, and they were unanimously re elected for the ensuing year.

A vote of thanks to the President, VicePresidents, the Committee, and officers was passed and acknowledged by the Chairman, and the meeting concluded.