THE NELSON INSTITUTE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12878, 23 August 1910, Page 2

THE NELSON INSTITUTE.

AGREEMENT WITH THE CORPORATION. MEETING oFmEMBERS. A special general meeting of members of the Nelson Institute was hold in tile Library hist night, for the purpose of considering the draft agreei ment between the City Council and the* Committee of the Institute, by vvhich the former body agrees to pay an annual subsidy of £150 for. 25 years, having representation on the ! governing body of the institute to the extant of one-third of the members thereof ; and further to authorise, the Committee to borrow the sum of £3000 under the Nelson Institute Act, 1908, and to rerisa tho by-laws. The negotiations between the Council and the Institute have been before the public for a considerable! time, and the provisions of the agreement, wliich. was drafted last year, have already been outlined. There was not a large attendance, and the President of the Institute, Mr F. G. Gibbs, occupied the chair. The ohairman explained that the protracted negotiations between- the City Council and tlhe Committee of the Institute had been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, tihe Council having decided to ratify the agreement drafted last year, by which the Council would contribute £150 per annum for a term of 25 years. Some of the conditions of the agreement were severe, and would, restrict to some extent their freedom of action. But on the other hand, the clauses of the agreement wore reason able, and he did not think their members would find them irksome. He thought they would agree that in tho interests or the city tho Committee should execute the agreement. It was the only way in which the reproach of not haying a suitable library building could be re 7 moved from tho city. ~ - . Mr Gibbs then read the draft agreement, explaining its provisions, which have previously been outlined. A letter, was 'read -from "Mr A. K. Griffin, the Institute's architect, stating that he estimated the total cost of the proposed building at £3006. The chairman said nothing further had been done in regard to the plans, pending the City Council's action. Mr Maginnity had informed him that he had obtained a virtual promise that the, loan could be obtained at 45 per cent at the most, provided the security was good, which (he was sure it was. Mr R. Allah moved, "That this meeting of. mombers of the Institute approve of the deed of agreement.between the City Council and the Institute as drafted and read, , and authorises tlie Committee to execute they same." . ' ■ ■ . The resolution was seconded by Mr Serin. ; _ ' Mr Snodgrass said h© was strongly in support of the proposal. He drew attention to the fact that with the now and larger building the expanses of the Institute would be increased. The Council's subsidy would provide for upkeep',' but they would require a larger income to meet current expenses. It might, for instance, be found necessary to employ an assistant librarian. They were now in a position to provide a building worthy of ;the town, and they had every reason to be satisfied. ■ . . ."■■*: *"' - Mr Fowler asked if it was not iiv tended to open a subscription list in the town, by -which; thoiy hoped to get £1000. He-believed the list was sent round last ycor. ._ The secretary, Mr Gilbert, said the list contained promises amounting to £205. There were donations of £50, £25, £10, and 'several of £5 each. Ho .had hopes of collecting at least £400 in that way. Jn addition to that there was the sum of £408 in the savings bank, and. an asset in' the present building. They had to thank Mr Snodgrass for the initiative in approaching the Council. J, The ohairman said the question. ■of additional expenditure, would have to be faced./ Tho cost-of the .new building would by no means cover tha cost of moving in. :New cases would be required for the museum. There was another expense which- should not bo. lost sight of. The purchase of books for the library was disgracefully limited. He should like to see the amount now spent in that way at least doubled. He hoped the^ pubKc support would be increasedr" Although tihe City Council had done its part, they still needed. the support of tho public to make the Institute what it should be. The resolution was then put and carried. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Hanby, seconded by Mr Rnapp, that the amended by-laws drafted by the Committee come into force and take the place of the by-Jaws at present in existence as soon as the agreement with the City Council is executed. A resolution authorising tlte Committee to borrow the sum of £3000 was aidopte(d on tine motion of Mr Webley, seconded by Mr Allan. Oh the motion of Mr Snodgrass, -seconded by Mr Senn, the Committee was authorised to offer for collateral security, if necessary, tha revenues derived: from the endowments of the Institute and the subsidy granted by the City Council. " Mr Hanby said the end. of a long agitation was a matter for congratulation. They were now oh the point of realising the ideals which had been present in the minds of many of them for a vcvry long time. ■ ■ . Mr Gilbert said the Committee had been accused of dilatoriness in not rebuilding sooner. He could say, however, that the ashes of the< old building were scarcely cold before an application, was mado to Mr Carnegie. 'His conditions, however, wercv such that they could not take advantage of his" assistance. Since then the Committee had not been idle. Mr Kriapp said tho. Committee had had the loyal help of the Press,' and the Press could help them still, further by assisting them ' in obtaining collections for the museum; The chairman said the stager that bad bean- reached was certainly a matter for congratulation, but more for tiho city than the Institute. As a anerely private library; for the. "mmJbers of the. Institute the present, arrangements were all well enough. When considered as the Nelson Library, however,, they were humiliating, and the Institute was fortunate in now being able to proceed with the erootion /of -an adequate building. ■':.' In reply to Mr Webley, the chairman said the Committee had not yet definitely doalt with the plans for tHie building. That would be gone into de novb when the agreement was completed. The plans had becai laid before a general, meeting of subscribers. Mr Senn- proposed' a vote of thanks to the chairman and tho 'secretary for the amount of work they had willingly undertaken in advancing the utterests of the Institute, The motion was seconded by Mr Snodgrass and carried. Mr> Field said Mr Gilb&rt had met with great success in collecting fundf. ; Messrs Gibbs and Gilbert acknowledged the votes, and the meeting terminated.