MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1188, 6 February 1880, Page 2

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

The general meeting of the members of the Institute was helcl'last evening.' - The President (Mr. T. W, Hialop)•'occupied the .chair, and' there were abbut'2o meiiibers present. The, minutes of the last general meotreM and cciiifirmedi" The Chapman . then, .read the annual repprt, aiict called upon tlje. Secretary,,in thejabsenw of tlw to the

balance-shoot. Tlio following is the roport : Your Committee, in presenting their report for the past year, are pleased to bo able to state that considerable progress has been made towards fulfilling the hopes entertained by members at last general meeting. Notwithstanding the general financial depression which has existed, our finances show. 'great improvement on what they were air the beginning of tho year. The total income, exclusive of building fund and subsidy, for the year was L 228 16s Bd. „ , Our expenditure has been L23514s lOcf. Our liabilities are nil, while about Lsoaro owing for subscriptions. Thoincreasc in our revenue enabled us to purchase a largo number of valuable works of various kind?. An addition to the library was made of 1094 vols., bringing the total number to nearly 3000. Tour additional magazines and two newspapers have been added to the current literature afforded to members. The books were given by the Education Board in lieu of subsidy, and reprcsont in money L 350. Although the funds will not admit of so great an addition bepg hoped for during the incoming year, 'wo believe that an addition of at least half as many volumes will be practicable and advisable. Your Committee intended to ask the Education Board to make arrangements with their agents at Home to send every three months parcels of tho latest publications of gsneral interest. They recommend this intention to their successors. The greater interest which is happily being taken in the institution by tho public generally, and which is to a great extent attributable to the greater inducements now afforded to readers, is evidenced by the large increase in subscribers. They now number 190, as against 140 at this time last year. The success of the institution is also greatly due to tho continued industry and attention of tho librarian. Your Committee, at the commencement of tho year, took into consideration tho advisability of re-building, but as no hop® could be entertained of immediately raising the funds, we have effected some repairs to the present building, which, wo believe, add greatly to the comfort of members. In order to raise a fund for future operations, we determined to ask the ladies of the district to help us by means of a bazaar, and we have pleasure in reporting that generally there was a hearty response to our request, and tho efforts of the ladies were crowned with great success. The net amount realised by the bazaar, LSOO, together with L2OO which we had in hand, has been invested at 10 per cent, per annum for a term determinable on our giving six months' notice. We may; fairly estimate that wo shall receive by way of subsidy sufficient to raise our building fund to at least LIOOO. Your Committee consider that until it reaches at least LISOO it would be unwise to commence to build. 11l concluding this part of our report, we congratulate the institution upon the spirit displayed by the ladies to whose efforts the success of the bazaar was attributable. We believe that nothing augurs so well for the future of the institution or will encourage those who hope to see it provide all * that it ought to afford to tho public so much as the interest shown by them.

So much of the time and attention of the Committee was taken up with the bazaar that your Committee were unablo to arrange for lectures. Some gentlemen have, however, promised to help during the incoming year. We recommend this subject to our successors, both as a means of education and entertainment to the public, and.' as a source of revenue to the institution.

The efforts of your Committee to cany out the recommendations of last annual meeting to have evening classes have, through the exertions of Mr. Peattie and Mr. Hewat, been very successful. They were attended by about thirty pupils. Thanks are due to Messrs. Peattie and Hewat, whose example we hope to see followed in supplying a great want. The Dramatic Club kindly gave a performance in aid of the funds, which proved satisfactory. This was the only entertainment given in aid of the funds. The Rev. A. B. Tood, on rising to propose the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said it afforded him much pleasure to do so. It was the most satisfactory report that had ever been read in connection with the Institute, and the Committee deserved great credit for the manner in which they had discharged their duties during the past year, which led him to look for better results to come. With reference to the bazaar that had lately been held, he did not think the meeting would be doing justice were they not to pass a unanimous vote of thanks to the ladies, as it was no doubt owing to their indefatigable zeal that the bazaar proved the success it was. He said it was a disgrace to tho community that there was not a suitable hall in the town in which to hold meetings, &c., and ha would like to see a large hall erected in connection with the Institute. The rev. gentleman referred to success which had attended the evening classes carried on by Messrs. Peattie and Hewat, and said ho would like to see similar classes held this year. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr. It. Garrow briefly seconded tho motion. Mr. Peattie called attention to a paragraph in the report stating that L'2s had been taken from the building fund for general expenses. He would like it to be a recommendation to the incoming committee to pay back this sum into tho building fund from the general expenses as soon as practicable. The Chairman was also of the samo opinion as Mr. Peattie, and said that it was very desirable that a commodious building should be erected for the Institute. The report and balance-sheet wore then unanimously adopted. The election of office-beaTQVa for tho ensuing year was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows ;—President, Mr, T. Forrester; Yioo-president, Mr, H, Peattie; Treasurer, Mr. J. Hassell, jun.s Secretary, Mr. T. Williamson (re-elected)) Committee, Messrs. Hislop, Garrow, M'Combe, Kidd, Filleul, A. Headland, Greenfield, Wheeler, Sumpter, Loring, and Fid let-. Mr. H. Richmond was re-elected Librae rian at the same salary as last year. On the motion of Mr. laontagil, seconded by Mr. Filleul, a special vote of thanks was accorded to tho, ladies for their efforts in connection with the late bazaar. It was also resolved on tho. motion of Mr. Greenfield that a letter of thanks bo forwarded to tho Ladies' Committee. • The usual vqto of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close.