NELSON INSTITUTE.

Colonist, Volume VII, Issue 662, 1 March 1864, Page 2

NELSON INSTITUTE.

The annual general meeting of this body was held on Friday last, Mr. H. Adams, Preaident/in the chair. The attendance was not very large, there being only about fourteen or fifteen present. The following is the report of the Committee :— "During the past year additions havo bocq iqado to the Library of nearly 130 volumes of miscellaneous literature,' and this will be considerably increased in future, for, in order to extend its utility, a Book Club has been successfully organised on principles well calculated to benefit both the Club and the Institution. It secures to its members the right of selection and exclusive possession of the books for ona year, and afterwards they become the property of the Institution. r.The.speedy system of obtaining the newest works by book post from England has been tested, to the great advantage of the members, who thus receive a prompt supply of valuable and attractive works, and as ample instructions have been forwarded to our agent in England on this point, the members may confidently rely upon its continuance. " Your committee regret to state that although they have gone to considerable expemo to render the Eeading Eoom attractive, especially in winter timo, vet the post qf papery «vn.d periodicals alone, owing fco tho paucity of its subscribers, amount to nearly the receipts of this department. "During the past halfyear additions have been made to the Museum. The attendance upon this portion of the Institute still continues to bo considerable, and its arrangements and value are highly appreciated, and commented upon by the numerous strangers visiting it from without the province. "As every facility will be afforded by the committee for the formation of classes for elocution, dispussion, and mutual improvement, members wishing to establish such are invited to co-operate, so that the same may be established during the ensuing winter.

" The committee have also to th.an.k. several gentlemen fqr yarjous valuable presents to the Museum during the past year, the particulars of which have been supplied to, the local newspapers." An abstract of the Treasurer's accounts showed the income from all sources to be £137 6s. 6d., and the outlay £191 7s. 10d., showing qn excess of expenditure of £4 7s. 4d. ' "• '" • '

The report and accounts having heen, road, \t was inove4 by I)r. Irvine, jecpnded. by ]\lr, Levien—That the report jus,tr.ead be adopted. Carried. The Chairman reported that as no other names had been proposed for the offices of' President, VicePresident, Treasurer, and Secretary, it was his duty to de.pla.re the gentlemen now holding those offices reeleoted for the present year. These are—Messrs Henry Adams, President; D. Sinclair, Vice-Presi-dent ; Oswald Curtis, Treasurer; and John Percy Secretary. • .. _ . J>

T.he Chairman' then stated that Mr. Goodman wished to retire from tK« Committee, «$ tl^at the

other members of the Committee of 11363, were eligible for ■ re-election, "togethor Svith Dr. Irvine, Messrs. J. C. Eichmond and D.' Ml Lu«kie, whose names had been duly posted. . ' ' A ballot having, been taken, the following gentle-, men were declared by the Chairman to be elected members of the committee for the current year:—> Messn. W. Wells, E. Burn, Irvine, Luckie, Gibson, D. Burns, D. Moore, and J, C. Eichmond. >^ On this announcement being made, Mr. J". L. BoU%r directed attention to No. 25 of the Society's rules by which it is provided that officebearers must, be chosen from those who are duly qualified, and that ho person is thus qualified who had not paid his subsoription. Mr. Bailey said ho had made enquiry and had found that neither Mr. Eichmond nor Mr. D. Burns had paid their subscriptions, and that neither of tnem was entitled to be-elected. '

The Chairman said he would pay the subscriptions for these gentlemen, as he was sure the nori-payment ; was simply an oversight, as both gentlemen had been, members of thq Institute for a long period, and Mr. ' Eichmond bad been for some time from home. Several other members remarked on the ungenerous ' l character of the proceeding in drawing attention to a matter which was purely formal ; and it wfcs asserted that Mr. Bailey ought to have definitely stated hia objections to the two gentlemen, before the vote was taken, and that his not having done so'rendered it too late according to ordinary precedents in such questions. '

Mr. Bailey said he did not like to take Such an invidious looking course, but he had previously asked ' the Chairman if he had satisfied himself as to whether all those nominated were qualified. Ho considered • that it was the business of the Committee to hava ascertained beforehand whether or not the persons proposed were qualified by haying' paid" their subscriptions, and he contended that the rule rendered it impossible for these gentlemen to be chosen, as it was requisite that their subscriptions be paid before their ■ election. He thought it necessary that the law should be strictly complied;-with.- 'There had.been a dead set made against him that'evening, he did hot" know for what reason, whether political or otherwise. (A. laugh). He had long been on the Committee and had done his best to serve the Institute, but if he waa " to be so treated he was determined to see the law ■ carried out with other people. He had no personal objection to these gentlemen, but the rules ought to " be observed. . . ' : • • '

'It was stated that Mr. Bailey had according to'his ' own showing been guilty of a direliction of duty. He was a member of Committee himself, and instead of > feretting out this matter in the way he had done, and' --1 bringing it before the" public meeting of the members? he ought to have laid it before the meeting of the ■=■ Committee which had been.held that evening and the thing could then have been settled with ease.' : [Mr Bailey: I was not present at that meeting,! Then Mr. Bailey ought to have been present, but possibly that might not have suited his object. A good deal of conversation followed, and it was at one time'agreed that; tlio subscriptions being paid by the Chairman, a now election for the two members, who were unqualified, should be proceeded with; ' whereupon Mr. Bailey intimated that if he were .-* elected he should not acf; on the Committee after what - had passed; for he wished simply to try' the question. Ultimately, . . The Chairman decided that it was necessary- that • these two gentlemen should be.declared not- elected, and that those chosen in their room were Messrs. J. L. Bailey, and W. C. Hodgson ; the Committee actually elected being as follows :—• Messrs. "Wells, E. Burn, Irvine, Luctie, Gibson, , D. Moore, Bailey, and Hodgson. Mr. Bailey then announced his resignation of the office of member of Committee.

Dr, Irvine said he hop 3d Mr. Bailey would reeon- • aider his decision and -withdraw hig resignation.- As a new member of Committee he (Dr. Irvine) »hould be sorry to lose the services of former members. Mr. Wells expressed a similar desire. The Chairman, after explaining his reason for coming to the conclusion he had done, which he thought was in accordance with the strict reading of the rules, said that in the balloting for the. ten candi-l dates proposed, six were higher than the four others, and of these four three had an equal number of votes, • so that he was obliged to leave out one. of these three, • but 2,L; iJ.ii'oy was not of this number, so that hi« .« omitting one name had not affected him at all. Mr. Bailey then ijai&that he would, take a night, to consider whether or riot he, should send in his writtea. resignation. -.

A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman, which closed the proceedings of the meeting.