TEMUKA MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1353, 16 June 1885, Page 2

TEMUKA MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the abore was held last Friday evening. Present Dr. Hayes (in the Chair), and Messrs Hargreaves, Blyth, McS. Gentleman, Ashwell, senr., Archer, Beri, Gray, and Haines.

'i he minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, The President explained what steps bad been taken with regard to the Librarian. The agreement with him could not be found, and he had refused to take a month's notice.

In reply to a question the Secretary stated that 64 books were not to be found, but some of them were taken out. There were 45 books not traceable at all.

Mr Bolton (the librarian) was then admitted. He said he wowld like to see the Committee about the month's notice he had received. He bad been there for seven years and there were never any complaints against him, and he did not think it fair, without letting him know the reason, a resolution should have been passed and published in the papers giving him a month's notice and inviting fresh applications. If this were done through the agreement having been lost, why did they nof draw up a fresh agreement and ask him to sign il ? If they thought the salary too much, why did they not ask him to submit to a reduction. He had submitted to £5 being taken off before. But they never spoke to him at all on the subject, and it looked as if he were dismissed for some other cause. He would like to know what it was.

Dr Hayes said there was no cause whatever, and there was nothing to prevent him applying again.

Mr Bolton said it looked as if he had been discharged, and, if so, how could he apply again ? The agreement had been lost, but he knew its contents. He was not responsible for books, and he could not be turned out without three months' notice. He bad always endeavored to oblige people bv exchanging books at 311 times, and he had paid money out of his own pocket to advance the interests of the Institute. If it had fallen to the ground it was not through his fault. Most of the members were obtained through his endeavor?. It was due (o him that some cau-e should hare been assigned.

After some further conversation to the same <ff<'ct, Dr /Inyes said the question of giving satisfaction had not been discussed, And it was not intended that he should have been dismissed. The motion was passed because the agreement was missing, and they wanted lum to enter into another. Since then; however, there was a little matter he wished to have explained. He, with Messrs Hargreaves and Haines, went to the Mechanics to take stock, and Mr Bolton took away the light from them, and told him (Dr Hayes) he was telling a lie.

Mr Bolton said he bad not done so. He had told the Doctor he was telling a falsehood, and he was quite justified in doing so. Dr Hayes asked Mrs Bolton for a copy of the agrepmeat, and slip told him it was not in her possession, yet Dr Hayes name before the Committee and said that he (Mr Bolton) had the agreement but would not* give it up.

Dr Hayes : You never asked what happened at the Committee, but you told mo I was telling a lie, as Mr Hargreaves knows. Mr Hargreaves : Yes. Mr Bolton said the Doctor knew very well he (Mr Bolton) had not the agreement, and yet he told the Committee he had it and would not give it up.

Dr Hayes said that what he had told the Committee was that he was under the impression there were two copies of the agieement and that Mr Bolton had one of them. He had asked Mrs Bolton about it, and she said she knew nothing about it. He asked Mr Bolton about it, and his reply was to the effect that he (Dr Hayes) knew he had not got it, and that he was telling a lie on the matter.

Mr Bolton said Dr H*yes had asked Mrs Bolton twice ahoufc it, and that on the second occasion she told him she never had it. There were not two copies made of the agreement.

Dr Hayes said there was another matter. They told Mr Bolton to leave books 88 they canie in on the tablp, so that they might go through them. Be did not do this. He mixed them up with the books on the shelve*.

Mr Bolton said the books had been pat on one side and next time they c> m*down and finished and said sail nothing about it. If he had thought they wanted the books he would have left them for them. lie explained that many of the books missing had never been in the library in his tin'p. He believed there were 8 or 9 books altogether missing. lie should have assisted them in taking Stock only that Mrs Bolton was lying ill at the other side of the match-lining wall. He asked them to go away that night as Mrs Bolton was very ill, and Dr Hayes said tbey would not go. Mr Ashwell asked, if Mr Bolton were giren time could he account for the missing books? Mr Bolton said he could with *the exception of 8 or 9 books, and hs was willing to pay for them. Mr Ashwell said it appeared there was nothing against Mr Bolton except an agreement missing and also some books. He was willing to enter into, a fresh agreement and pay for the books, and he (Mr Ashwell) thought it cruel to ask him, after having been there seven years, to go tendering against others.

Dr Hayes said if Mr Ashwell was going to discuss the merits of the case Mr Bolton feught to withdraw. Mr Bolton said he was ready to enter into a new agreement. When the Committee supplied fuel and lighting it cost them £B2 per annum for six days in the week. He was doing it for £2B per annum for seven days in the week. His agreement was three month's notice. He then withdrew.

Dr Hayes wished to know whether the Committee would exonerate the librarian from blame for the discourtesy shown to himself and Mr Hargrerves when stock-taking 1 They had also supplied him with a copy of the list of missing books, but he had neglected to gire any explanation about them. Mr Ashwell : He is prepared to do so.

Dr Hayes also said the issue books wero kept in a loose and slovenly manner, fie had been given one month's notice on May 12, but he wanted three months, and now he wanted to stay on altogether. Mr Gray said that owing to the unsatisfactory state of affairs a change was necessary. When the librarian became so disagreeable his services should be dispensed with. Three months was the usual notice.

Mr Hargreaves moved that he be giren two months' notice from date. The motion was seconded by Mr Gray, and carried unanimously. Mr ABhwell condemned the practice of tendering for everything, and suggested that the Committee fix a salary.

It was decided after some conversation to fix the salary at £2O a year, and to call for applications for the position of Librarian.

Dr Hayes and Messrs Hargreares and McS. Gentlemum were appointed a Committee to draw up a fresh agreement and receive applications. The meeting then adjourned.