THE ATHENAEUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10618, 13 March 1896, Page 3

THE ATHENAEUM.

TO THE EM lOR.

Sib, —The correspondence between the committee of the Duiiedin Athsmeum and myself, as representing those who are desirous of testing definitely the feeling of Subscribers as f o the future management of the institution, dhows on its face, I tbink, that the committee are determined if possible to continue the tactics they followed at the annual meeting when, through the month pf their chairman, they fired off an official statement of the position occupying fully 20 minutes in itfc delivery, every line of which contained debatable mutter, and managed to apply the gag to the minority by limiting their replies tb five minutes. The requisitionistS are not obliged to communicate with the committee at all, but they, did so as an act of courtesy, in order that the convenience of all parties as to the date of meeting might be studied. The by-law, which, is mandatory, declares tbat the requisition shall state the "proposed -object" of the meeting, and the reqnisitioriist- assert that they desire to consider the propriety of placing the institution "oh a more popular basis " than it is. now. 'True, there is a qualifying sentence at the end of ,tho by-law, which 6ays that " only the subject stated in the requisition shall be discussed at sUoh meet'iDg," but nd one will have the hardihood to dispute'that there is anything unusual therein' contained. AU special meeting", however and by whomsoever convened, are confined to tbe particular businf ss to be discussed thereat. It is surely a compliance with the by-law to Bay that the meeting will be asked to consider the '•' desirability," or otherwise, which is a specific issue, of " running " the institution on lines different; to.thosd at present in vogue, : so tbat the Athenreum may be brought more in (ouch than it is with the general public. If at tbe meeting any proposals are launched that are not germane to that question it will then, 1 apprehend; be time lor the committee, through the chairman, to intervene. Those who are acting with mi. are determined that we Bball not be deprived of our rights as sub-bribers, hor have the " gag " imposed on us a second time. The subjoined letter, wbich bas been forwarded to the secretary of tbe Athenreum, explainsthe position we take up.—l am, _tc, Dunedin, MarehlO. Mauk Cohen.

I have to acknowledge the receipt of yoUr letter of even date, in reply to which I have to say that the only effect of the interpretation given to the by-law by your committee will lie to put, my cosignatories and telf to the trouble of preparing and submitting to yoii as secretary two requisitions. We did your committee the courtesy of forwarding the requisition to them, as they well knew of its existence, and were informed by mc at the annual meeting of that fact and of oul- intention to ask the subscribers to consider.the question in a broad, general way. The object which the requiiltionisis have in view ip, to my thinking, amply xttted, and I repeat that thero is nothing ia the by-law which authorises the committee to interpose. The requisitionists could without, doubt have, said that they wished tbis, that, or the other matter to be discussed, but they had no desire to dictate to tbe meeting, ahd had no intention of coming forward with any cut-and-dried programme. They are merely desirous of obtaining from the great body of the subscribers a definite expression of opinion as to whether (as the requisition says) the institution, in the welldoing of which they have quite as live an interest as the members of the committee, ouaht not to be

" run " on more popular lines than it has been in the past. It will be for the meeting, not the requisitionis s, to answer that question aye or nay ; but it will be the duty -of the latter, if I know anything about the conduct of public business, to attempt to lead the way. Dunedin, Marcli 10. M. CoiiEN.

— The "life tree" of Jamaica is harder to kill than any other species of wood growth known to arboriculturists. It continues to grow and thrive for months after being uprooted and exposed to the sun. SKY CANAJJLVN CLUB WHISKY,