TURANGANUI PUBLIC LIBRARY. ANNUAL MEETING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9638, 13 January 1903, Page 2

TURANGANUI PUBLIC LIBRARY. ANNUAL MEETING.

The umiual meeting of subscribers to the Turanganui Public Library was held last evening m the reading-room of the Library. The Rev. H. W. Williams, President, was m the chair, and there were also present : Messrs F. Morgan, W. J. Howley, L. '].'. Symes, G. Matthewson, W. Ada'ir, E. H. Maim, J. Townley. Redstone, and Dr. Williams. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet submitted by the Treasurer (Mr Synies) showed : Receipts, £150 10s lid ; balance m bank 30th June, 1902, £32 7s 6d ; liabilities, nil ; expenditure, £34 0s 7d ; balance m bank December, 1902, £48 17s ; assets, £861 17s. The annual Report was as follows : — "Your Committee has much pleasure m reporting the Library to be m a flourishing htate. The membership has increased" since the presentation of the report of the last general meeting six months ago from 182 to 212. During the same period 363 books have been procured, and a number of old and damaged ones disposed of, leaving the total number of 3626 m the Library. During the half-year additional shelving has been erected ai\d the floor of the reading-room covered with linoleum at a cost of £18. This has added to the comfort, and appearance of the Library. Miss Beere continues to give satisfaction*: m the discharge of her duties as Librarian. Since November 15th the Library «has been opened on Saturdays at 10 a.m.. an arrangement which bits proved a great convenience, especially to country subscribers. The catalogue has been m hand for some time, but was unfortunately delayed by the death of Mr Cartwright, who was engaged m transcribing it. It is hoped, however, that it will soon be m the hands of the printer, and its publication should follow shortly. Attention is drawn to the small support, accorded to the Library by means of voluntary subscriptions m the reading-room, the total amount m the box at the end of six months being only 3s 4d. If more liberal assistance were received from this source additional papers might be placed upon the table." The President, m moving the adoption of the report, said the subscribers were to be congratulated on the nourishing state of the Library's finances. They would notice by the report that they had a substantial balance m the bank, but it must also be borne m mind that they had not yet received an answer from Mr Carnegie. If this state of affairs continued, the Committee would have to take, m hand the matter of building themselves. That would be a great drain on the finances of the institution, and they would have to do it with borrowed money, while so much more now paid away for new books would have to be, set aside as interest. It was due to the excellent management of the Librarian (Miss Beere) that the membership was increasing steadily, and had now reached a total of 212. As they had no interest to pay during the pnst six months they had been able to spend a large sum m books. Out of the 363 books purchased were, a large number which might be called standard works of authors like Scott and Thackeray, and valuable books of travel and expensive works, which would always be a good asset to tlie Library. They were gradually improving the list of standard books m the Library, which was not only a place where they would find the novels of the day, but where a book on almost any subject could be obtained. With Mr Carnegie's assistance, they hoped to make the Library a credit to the town. Mr Townley seconded the adoption of the. report, and was glad to see that the Library was m such a flourishing condition. He thought it was ' worth while before rushing into the expense of a building to wait until they saw what Mr Carnegie was going to do." The President : You must bear m mind thnt he is getting 300 letters a day on the subject. Mr Townley said Mr Carnegie had New Zealand before him, and it would be their opportunity shortly. Tihe public were to be congratulated on the increased usefulness of the Library and its flourishing condition, which was owing, no doubt, to the attention paid by the Librarian. The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. On the motion of Mr G. Mutthewson, the Rev. H. Williams was unanimously reelected President. Mr Matthewson m proposing Mr Williams, said the Library had made great progress during the year under the retiring President, and he thought they should endeavor to keep him m office for a further term. On the motion of Mr Symes, seconded by Mr Matthewson, Mr J. Townley was 'elected' Vice-President. Messrs W. A. Barton, G: Matthewson, C. P. Davies, A. It. Muir, W. J. Hawlev! L. T. Symes, "and F. Morgan were elected a Committee. . t , Messrs W. O'Meara and H. M. Porter were re-elected Auditors. A meeting of the Committee was held subsequently, and Mr L. T. Symes reelected Secretary and Treasurer.