THE COLONIST PUBLISHED DAILY-(MORNINGS). NELSON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16,1889.

Colonist, Volume XXXII, Issue 5420, 16 February 1889, Page 3

THE COLONIST PUBLISHED DAILY-(MORNINGS). NELSON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16,1889.

NELSON INSTITUTE

What is the mattpr with the Nelson In-* stitute ? Year after year we read the dismal reports of the Secretary. Dismal they »re, despite their thinly disguised hopefulness -a, hopefulness which is never realized, aod which we all have a shrewd suspicion their author never reaily thought would be realized. Year after year we hope against hope, and yet we find at their last meeting the Committee are really worse off than ever, owing on their current account no less than £100, that is to say if the up-keep of ilia building is properly provided for. We have set ourselves honestly to consider the question. We.attended the annual meeting on Wednesday evening; we found thare an able Chairman, who evidently understood what he was about, a number of subscribers (by-the-bya principally membeis of the Committee), but who evidently, each and all, were giving an interested and inte li - gest attention to what was going on), and we listened to a clear and business iiko report and balance sheet prepared respwctrvely by the Secretary an i Treasurer; and then we j thought we had not hit the blot, so we devoted another Rveiiicg to tbe purpose, strolling round " permUcucßn like," aa Artemus Ward says. Turning oor attention., first to | the Public Eeading Boom, which we found fully occupied by readers, the tables, of wkich j there are several, being covered with newspapers, some illustrated. We then proceeded to what is called the Library lieadiog Boom, which was fairly full, the fair sex being in a Tery respectable minority, and each ODe of the occupants being provided with some standard periodical. ■j.ln passioß we may say that the shelves" of thia room are provided with literature of the more serious kind, of all descriptions, including the last- edition of thn ponderoua Enoyclopffidia Britannica. We then, wended our willing footsteps to the front room, where novels are tbe principal ingredient, and from whioh we heard the p'eaaant laughter of young maidenl), Thera we found everything going on swimmingly, and yrt in a businessliko manner, every book or periodical taken out or brought in being recorded in as ays-

tematic o, manner as that pursued in a Bank cashier's office, the whole being presided over by the lady Librarian, who is oourtesy aud attention itself. No v, tbig was very pleasing, | but what about the haunting dreary reports of that dreadful Secretary, with his everlasting ding docg "You are not paying your way; you are getting into debt." We gave it up for the uma, receiving from the Librarian a ch»ery Good-nighl, mi going pondering on our way. After q.foful further consideration, we have coma to the conclusion, although very reluctantly, that the Committee are atUnpiing too much; that in fact, el-' though the Institute is a leal necessity to the 130 subscriber.*!, this does not justify the Committee in providing literary resources fer at lenet treble that number, which is at ptesent the caee, and that if the townspeople an % whole really wish, quite apart from their own desire for literature, that the Institute should be kept open on its present basis, they must voluntarily come forward and aubssiiba.

EECHABITE PICNI€. Ax ten o'cNwk yesterday morning the dele* gates attsnding the District Me«ting, together with a number of the iooal members, ttaking a patty of about 70, left Nelson in live oonreyaoces for Wakefield. The day wa« beautitully iine, and f,he party enjoyed tlio wh immensely. Arriving at WaMield, ufc Mr jiaigent'e bush, at the roar of Mm Hodgson'* ■tort, tin* party found a collation ready waiting for ihuw, and it needed no uecouJ. invitation for them to do ample jußtioe to the (spread. Immediately alter games became the order of the day, oad louuderfl, teazle, cricket and jolly miller wera in full owin^, tv« coin. paoy, by the addiiion at the Wakciiold contingfut, baying swelled to over one humlmL Ati»e.o'clock »«üb«taatlal tea vfa« ierv«(J, and it six prepar&tioriS wort mtido tor th« rstorn joniney. Befo« leaving the Krounds, liro Fra»ei', the District M«or«tary, (#mrno(i th»«ik» to th» of the Wakdtold Tent lor (be laand«owe rwanner in which they had •ntertainud tbo company, The d«k-«atoH bad tn|oy«d their viiit to KeJioa very much indeed, and that day* pionlo would be onouf tilt «w>»t pltaning reeefleotioH in lonNtilitn

with their viiit. Bro B«nd, of the Wak«fiel<l Tmi, responded. Thuy considered it a pleasure to entertain their brethren, and they hoped the district meeting would soon be bald once more in Nelson. Cheers' were givutf by each party. Tha return journey wag accomplished safely, Sis. Duocau.while assisting to prepare the luncheon, fell, and broke a smal b^na of her left arm. Beyond this accidsiU, nothing^ occurred to mar the enjoyment of ihe day's proceedings.

Pire InsurasJor CoMPANY.~By ati adveiltieement which appears in to-day's issue, it will be seen that a'hother Fire "Insurance Company has commenced business in Nelson, i the " London and Lancashire ", Company having appointed as their agent, for Nelson and surrounding districts Mr George HodgBon, who ia prepared to accept insurances on every description of property at once. This Company, whose head office is in Liverpool, is doing a large and profitable business all over_ the globe, and is of undoubted stability, as will he teen by, the following figures :— The: subscribed capital is £1,852,000; the Eeserve Fund has reached now £330,000; while tha'.natt profit in 1887 was no leas than £70,003, which resulted in a dividend being declared of 12 per cent, tha Esserve Fund and balance in hand being in addition, increased by £48,000. The Company ia a Fire Ofiico ooly, and its funds cannot therefore ba called upon to make pood any other description of loss. We understand that all losses a*e paid promptly in the Colony. The dis-t-.ict for which Mr Hodgson is appointed agent embraces Nelson, Suburban North, the Waimeas, Motueka atjil adjacent districts, and Golden Bay—in reiffity all Nelson ptoper. We wish the Company prosperity ia its new developemsnt, which under its exps risneed management should result.

SYNOPSIS os NEW ADVERTISEMENTS— The following new advertisements appear in this morning's issuo :—

Meeting of Buitding Society on Monday. Notice re P. Main* bankruptcy." Wanted situation by a boy. Names of oandidates nominated as members

of Nels»n Eduoatioa Board. Masters wanted by Nslson Education Board Tenders for painting required by Nelson Education Board. Mantar required for Timaru High Softool. Notice to owners ol doja by Bichmond Town Board. Addition to Messrs Pitt and Moore's land sale. ■) Auction by Messrs Bisley Brothers. London and Lancashire Insurance Com-

pany notify that th-y have cooitnenoed buiness inJNelsonj Opal enlargements at W. Tyree'a, photcigrapher, Trafalgar atreet. G. Hodgson, eharebroker, &o. Great sale by Melbourne Drap»ry Co.