DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10263, 22 January 1895, Page 6

DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

A special meeting of the Atuen.-oum Committee was held lust evening, when there were present—Messrs T. W. Whitson (chairman), J. Jack, J. H. Chapmen, A. H. Burton, &/ ?• Clifford, R. Martin, T. Brown, W. B. Hariow, H. F. Bastings, and Dr Mscdonald. The draft report to be presented to the meeting of subscribers on Monday nezfc was considered and approved. Messrs Smith and Smith's tender of £17 14s 6d, for painting and papering the institution, was accepted. The other tenders were as follow:—A. Lees, £22 10a; H. S. Fish and Son, £18 153; Omicd and Drew, £26; Thomas Fogo, £27 Bs. In was agraed that a selection of magazine literature should be pre~ lented to the crew of H.M.S. Royalist.

The report to be presented to tha annual meetrag stated that s,fc tbe close of their term of office the committee were pleased to be able to report that in every respect the prosperity and efficiency of the institute have been maintained. The total receipts from all sources during the year amounted to £1146 4s Id, of which sum subscriptions yielded £919 6s. The Museum Endowment, which in prsvious years yielded considerable revenue to the institute, again provided nothing last year, and the committee regratted that no income from this Bource need be expected for some time. In the last report reference was made to the failure of an attempt to secure the co-operation of the owners of neighbouring properties in improving the drainage of the block. During the past year the question was re-opened, and the tommittee were pleased to be able to report that arrangements were made which resulted in construction of a suitable drain through the Athenaeum section and those adjoining. Several matters of special interest to members have received the attention of the committee during tihe year. The reference library has beeu revised and catalogued ; the books in the lending library have been examined, and replacements aad withdrawals decided npon. In continuation of the practice initiated last year, * catalogue of the books added to the library during 1894- bad been compiled, and could be be obtained from tha librarian on application. About 16,500 volumes were in the library ; 579 volumes in various departments, including the latest edition of Chambsrs's Encyclopedia, TOere added to the library during the year. and magazines regularly received were as follows: —Daily, bi-weekly, and triweekly newspapers, 58; weekly and fortnightly periodicals, 83; monthly magazines, 58; quarterly publications, B;—total,8 ;—total, 207. !The librarian and his assistants have carried out their respective duties to the entire satisfaction of the committed daring the year. The balance sheet shows the receipts for the year to be £1220 6s id, including a balance from last year of £80 2s 3d. The expenditure for the year amounted to £1065 12s lid, there being a credit balance of £IS4 13s sd. The principal items of expenditure wera :—Salaries, £462 2s 2d; books, £110 6a sd; magazines aad foreigns, £140 lls lid; repairs and improve- ! «aents, £8014s 3d; gas, £90 4s 6d.