DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 431, 3 March 1860, Page 5

DUNEDIN ATHEN ÆUM.

An adjourned meeting of the members connected with this Institution was held in the Mechanics' Institution on Wednesday evening for the election of trustees, and transacting other business. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair. We much regretted to see so few of the public present on this occasion, although specially invited, and the little apparent interest manifested in the promotion of an object which promises to be of so incalculable benefit to the whole community.

His Honor stated the object of the meeting, and called on the secretary, Mr. James Barr, to read the following report : —

" Mr. Chairman, the following is offered, not as a complete Report, but simply as a brief general resume of the proceedings of the Committee of the Dunedin Athenamm and Mechanics' Institution from the time of their appointment, for the information of members and others.

41 On the 13th of May last a meeting was held in the Mechanics' Institution Hall, J. Macandrevv, Esq., in the chair, when the Dunediu Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institution was formed by the amalgamation of the two previously existing institutions—the Mechanics' Institution and Athenaeum.

"A General Committee, with power to add to their number, was appointed ; also a Building Committee, who were authorised to ' make the necessary arrangements for realising the value of the present building, obtaining if possible the freehold of the site granted by the Town Board on lease ;' and to raise, also, funds for the erection and furnishing of a new building by means of subscriptions and donations, or^if they hould see fit, by a loan. " Ou the 28th of the same month Secretaries were appointed, and arrangements made for transferring to their keeping all documents and property belonging to the late Mechanics' institution and to the Treasurer (Mr. Mills) }!i rH^ then Ending in the joint names ot tlie Chairman and Treasurer of the late Mechanics' Institution.

" Their arrangements completed, the Building Committee obtained the plan of a building from Mr. Langlands, the estimated cost of which would have been £7000. This plan was submitted for their decision to the General Committee, who, after hearing a statement from the Treasurer to the effect that the available hinds of the Institution from all sources were about £3000, came to the conclusion that the expense so far exceeding the amount on hand,_ they would not be warranted in adopting it.

"They, therefore, after a lengthened discussion, in the course of which the merits of a stone, compared with a wooden building, were fully canvassed, the result showing a very general and decided preference for stone. Re-

quested of Mr. Langlands a plan, which should embody the accommodation of the centre part of the buiiding in the first plan ; ' but capable of being erected for about £5000, to be of stone, and the lecture hall at least GO feet by 40 feet.'

" Improved plans and estimates, agreeable to these suggestions, were accordingly submitted by Mr. Langlands ; and the Committee, after mature consideration, approved of and accepted of the same, and advertised for tenders for the execution of the work. ~ " Tenders having been received, meetings were held on the 23rd and 25th January, for opening and deciding on the same. The tenders were severally awarded as follows :—: — Hugh Calder. . ( Stone Masonry £3862 10 0 b \ Excavators' Woik 37 10 0 Wynham and ) n . , o _ r A „ Sutcliffe.... | Carpenters 1 do- 1375 0 0 Milne * Painters' do. 198 15 0 Total £54G3 15 0 " The necessary preliminaries of signing the contracts, &c. have since been attended to, and the present meeting is specially convened for the purpose of nominating Trustees, and otherwise arranging for carrying into practical effect the objects of the Institution ; the Committee relying on the hearty co-operation and support of the entire public ; the object being the founding and carrying out to its successful completion of an Institution in which the community in general is interested, which will subserve a great moral purpose — furnish the means of intellectual enjoyment — be a convenient resort alike for town and country settlers, and all in an erection which will be the pride and ornament of Dunedin." Mr. T. Dick, in proposing the following resolution, expressed his belief that three gentlemen more fitted for the important trust could not have been selected, both from their long residence and the position they held in the Province. He moved —

" That J.iines Macandrew, Esq., the Hon. J. H. Harris, and John Jones, Esq., be appointed Tiustees; and that the Secretaries be instructed to communicate with and obtain their sanction to such an arrangement." Seconded by Mr. R. B. Martin, and agreed to. Mr. T. B. Gillies proposed the next resolution as follows : —

•' That an appeal be made to the Public of the Province to aid in the realisation of the proposed object by subscriptions and otherwise." He expressed his great surprise at the apathy displayed by the public towards the progress of an Institution which would be of inconceivable advantage to the Province in many respects. He urged a strong appeal to be made to the settlers on behalf of the object, and he trusted that the fact of there being only £3000 as yet available to erect the building which is to cost upwards of £5000, would be sufficient to incite the public to increased exertions to make up the deficiency. Seconded by Mr. J. S. Wjeub and agreed to. Mr. F. Walker proposed the following resolution .—

•' That the Committee of the Institution, with the members of Council for Dunedin, he requested to use their bebt endeavours to cairy out the pieceding resolution, inviting the co-operation and assistance of country settlers; and that they be invested with power to add to their number for this special purpose." He was astonished to observe the little interest manifested by the public in an institution from which so much benefit would be derived. It was not for a mere section of the community, but would be open to settlers from all parts of the Province, and where they could spend there spare time to advantage instead of resorting to the public house. It was not necessary for him to recount the beneficial effects experienced from the establishment of Athenoeums and Mechanics' Institutions in the home country, and in the colonies ; that must be patent to all : but he hoped the settlers of Otago would fully appreciate the value of the institution which was about to be reared amongst them, and use their best efforts to enable the committee to complete the building.

Mr. Mills seconded the resolution, which was agreed to.

It was suggested that a demonstration should take place at the laying of the foundation stone of the institution, which, along with other matters, was left to the committee to arrange. The meeting then separated.