DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13206, 13 February 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of suliecribers to the Dunedin Athenieum and Mechanics' Institute was held on January 30 in the reading room, and was fairly well attended. Tho chair was occiipiod by the vice-president (Mr J. Jeffery), and the other members of committee present were: Messrs R. G. Whcttcr, X. S. Graham, T. W., Whitson, A. 11. Burton, W. Burnett, A. James, A. Marshall, J. Angus, and J. Hutchison. An apology was received for absence from Mr J. L. Salmond.

'l'he Chairman, in moving tho adoption of tho annual report (already published) and balance sheet, spoke as follows:—Gentlemen,—A perusal of. tho balance sheet and a comparison with those of previous years rliow a general advance, though tho issue of family tickets might lie regarded as increasing the number receiving benefits in a greater ratio than tho income. The librarian informs mo that there, are 1614 entitled to the use of tho reading rooms, but'ythis is a larger number than i 6 entitled to the privilege. of taking out books. In 1874 thero were 1617 lnombcrs; from then tlio membership declined until, 1899, the number stood at 893. Since tlien thero has been a steady upward tendency, this year showing an advance of £106 in membership subscriptions upon last year, when an increase was shown of £201 on the previous y«ir. In considering the question of membership it must bo remembered that during the past few years a number of snmll circulating libraries' have sprung up—generally in connection with some small business, and therefore run at little or no extra expense. These provide books principally limited to the novel class, and so'cater for tho superficial reader. The Athomeum, however, !•• to'provide , reading for all tastes, and is deserving of-greater support than it rccoives. All inoi'oase of, say; 200 or 300 members would not. materially increase working expenses, and would, therefore, enable the committee to greatly increase the efficiency of the institute, particularly by allowing tho addition of a larger percentage of higherpriced and reference hooks. I cannot conclude rny remarks without referring to the zeal of the staff. The librarian is at all times keenly anxious to forward,the ■ interests of the institute. Members aro at times rather exacting, and' if the librarian 7 insists that the rules shall be strictly" adhered to, it is in the interests of subscribers themselves. \\ these few remarks, some of which ,do not bear very directly upon the annual report and balance sheet,: I beg to move their adoption. ! - Mr William Bradley.seconded the adoption of the . report and balance sheet, and, in doing'so said,'as'one who had been con-nected'.-with the": institute' for 26 years, he thought they had achieved a very gratifying position indeed.' They liad increased their revenue and-had increased the number of subscribers, .and " the efforts of committees jn successive years- had added largely to the' stability and usefulness of tho institute. . "The motion' was carried without discussion.... .'i. ;■. ~

On the recommendation of the'committee the - following officers; were unanimously elected for the-ensuing year:—Vice-presi-dent, Mr IV W.' Whitson; hon.. secretary, Mr R.: G. Whetter (re-clected); hon. treasurer,. Mr T. S. ; .Graham (re-elected); committee auditor, Mr W, B.: M'A'dam (reelected). ,Mr J. M'lndoo was also re-eleoted as-auditor for the subscribers.

The follpwing gentlemen were./elected a committee:—Messrs A'.' H. Burton (42), J; Angus (33),' W.-Burnett (56), J. L SaJinond

(33), J. JefTevy (35)/A- Marshall.'(ss), '-A'' James (33), W. M. Bradley (33), and «T. Hutehison (29). The Rev.. Canon King una Mr JV. J. Moore" were also nominated for positions on the committee.