LYTTELTON COLONISTS' SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 131, 13 October 1868, Page 2

LYTTELTON COLONISTS' SOCIETY.

* Tbe following report was read at the annual meeting, on Thursday last -. — The time has arrived when your executive committee have to rentier an account of tlu-ir stewardship, and transfer to such successors ns you now choose the cares and responsibilities your suffrages entailed upon them. Your committee look back upon the past year with mingled feelings. The time has not been barren of incidents. Two of your fellow-townsmen, elected with us on your committee, have gone "to that bourne whence no traveller returns " — Messrs liayner and Gwatkin. To both gentlemen we had looked with you for useful co-operation. To Mr Kayner we are specially indebted as a zealous officer of your society, and one of those who, by unceasing efforts succeeded in raising this building in which we now assemble. In looking kindly back upon their memories, let us seek to emulate thtir generous zenl, and endeavour, in this Society, and ' out of it, to be a mutual staff and solace each to other. Our career as a Society during the year has been marked by a fair measure of success. Our numberß are increased from 68 to

j 81; our library and reading room have been used more and more in a steadily increasing proportion. The kindred society, "The Choral," has returned to the shelter of our roof-tree, and lias had a successful season. A Horticultural Society is now just inaugurated within our walls, and with the advantage this hall offers for exhibition bids fair to show a good front with its competitors. ( )ur hall has been used on several occasions by artists of different classes visiting New Zealand, and has given general satisfaction as to its capabilities as a concert room, &c. And public dinners and balls, with other amusements, have helped to render this building what its promoters desired — the general social centre of our municipality. A new feature has been successfully introduced into our proceedings by a st-ries of • cheap readings, and with a success far exceeding the must sanguine expectations of the promoters. The committee invite you to give your cordial thanks to those gentlemen, resident and non-resident, who so kindly and so well took part in the readings, and also to the ladies and gentlemen who, by vocal and instrumental musical interludes, &c., gracrfuily added brilliancy to the enter tuitimcnts. Your librury has received several additions both by donation and purchase. Among the donations are a valuable collection of books i^iven by your pitron Sir George Grey; a collection of books has been forwarded from Kn gland by Messrs Smith and ELler, publishers ; Messrs Grahnm gave the Builder, Mr Mills the Athenaeum, Mr Payne and Captain Hose have given books, and an ingeniously cut model of a vessel under sail has been presented by Mr B. A. Hargreaves. The Christy Minstrels have been benefnctors to the building fund to the extent of between £60 and £70, the takings at the ? r concerts. The General Government, on the application of your representative, have forwarded copies of Hansard and other parliamentary papers, and the Provincial Government now | supply Gazettes and other Provincial papers. The reiding-room has been furnished with newspapers from different parts of the world by Mr Rayner, Mr Carder, and other friends, und you are all invited to add to the attractivenrßs of this department by similar contri- ' buttons. Satire in its gentlest and most innocent form has given itself expression ip a. manuscript Punch, the caustic wit whereof has been recognised by many others than our" < own townspeople. The officers of the vessels visiting tiiis j Port have gratefully recognised the liberality with which you placed the reading-room at their disposal. X Among the visitors to Canterbury during the year have been two whose names w'U ever be remembered with gratitude while Canterbury has a history— Lord Lyttelton and Mr Selfe — for their generous and selfdenying devotion to the interests of the pro vince during its early straggles. The officers of the municipality gave them kindly welcome in this hall, and they, having made enquiries as to our origin and purpose, expressed a wish to be united with us. You will be asked in the course of this evening to eisct them as honorary members of our institute/^ Your corrmittee found themselves charged with heavy liabilities on account of unpaid balance to builder. Seeing no way to discharge this from either current revenue or donation, they were advised to raise the necessary amount by way of loan, and £200 was borrowed at 12£ per cent.; to recoup this amount out of the surpluß over immediate debits two shares were purchase;) in the Building Society, so that principal and interest will be paid off in about five years. But a present incumbrance remains of £25 per annum, payable to lender, and 21s per month to the Building Society. You will receive from your treasurer a detailed statement of receipts and disburse- •* ments, and you will, it is hoped, cordially unite in an endeavour to raise the society to that high and important position it deserves. Your commttte have now to transfer their . duties to their successors, who, they doubt not, will be ready to devote themselves to your service. They would in conclusion, however, express a hope that when the season shall come round, it will be found practicable to resume the winter amusements.