WAITAHUNA ATHENEUM.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 148, 8 December 1870, Page 6

WAITAHUNA ATHENEUM.

An adjourned public meeting was | held iv the Athenjeum on. Monday evening, December sth, in consequence of a resolution passed on the pi-evious Monday requesting the Library Com- I inittee to resign, and so render them- i selves eligible for election as a new Athenaeum Committee. Mr. Higgins ' was chosen chairman, and he supposed most present were aware for what purpose they met together this evening, but for the information of those present at the former meeting, he would ask the secretary to read the then passed ; also the Korrespondence that had taken place pHfcpoiiseqnence thereof. li^r. Moggath then stated that he |HMbeen directed by the chairman to Ippte'the Library Committee, enclosing Ipfe following resolution :—": — " That this "meeting be adjourned for a week, and the Public Library Committee bo written to, asking them to resign." He (Mr. Moggath) also requested a reply at their earliest convenience, in order to lay it before the public meeting to be held this evening. In reply to the letter sonr, he (Mr. Moggath) received the following answer : — " The Library j Committee recognise no right on ! the part of the public meeting of Monday, the 28th ult,, to ask the Library Committee to resign, it not having been called to discuss any such business. Mr. Bain wished the annual report, balance sheet, and correspondence, to be read, as he considered there was a false report going about relative to the financial position of the Athenaeum previous to the present committee taking office. The secretary or treasurer, in his report, stated there was a debt of over £100 owing by the institution. He did not consider there was more than £80 or thereabouts owing at that time. Mr. Moggath said he had only the late committees figures and statements for it. He held the balance sheet in his hand, which any one was at liberty to inspect, The Chairman said the correspondence and report had been already read on the previous Monday. It was certainly at the secretary's option to read them again or not; perhaps he would be courteous enough to do so ; there were many here to-night not present on the previous Monday. Mr. Moggath then read the following report ; — Report op Waitahuna Athenaeum Committee — The report I have the honour of submitting to you respecting the affairs of the Waitahuna Athenamm, is of a much more favourable character than when, your present Committee took office, there being at that time a debt of about £110 which I am happy to inform you is now paid off, and a considerable sum in hand to the credit of the institution. I will now state the means used by your Committee to arrive at so favourable a result. They endeavoured, by giving entertainments of different descriptions, and continuing the Sixpenny Readings, to induce the public to support them in a liberal manner, but owing to various causes, among them the inclement nature of the weather, and almost impassable state of the roads, they failed, to receive ihe support they were entitled to expect, find conseqiiently they were unable to reduce the liabilities upon the building from that source. Your Committee being pressed by Messrs Hibbard and Co., for the amounts due to them, there remained no other

course open to them but an application to

Governnjeni for assistance, which they vere informed they could get by altering the name of the building and calling it

the Waitahuna Athenaeum, (it being in. fact already one in everything but name) which they did accordingly at a full meet-

jug of Committee, and received a grant of LIOO from the Government, thereby placing them in a position to clear oft* all liabilities, and I have great pleasure in congratulating you upon now having an Athenreum entirely clear of debt. I will now read to you the treasurer's report or the receipts and expenditure for the term your Committee has held office. An insurance on the building to the amount of LXOO has also been effected, Jajjes Moggath, Hon. Sec, Waitaluuia Atheuseum Committee, On behalf of the Committee. Waitahuna, Nov, 28, 1870. The balance sheet was also read.

Mr Bain said he was not yet satisfied about the balance ; that he thought there must be some mistake. He did not think there was more than LB-l< owing. Mr Bell proposed that the books be publicly audited. This proposition was seconded. Mr O'Keeffe proposed an arendment, seconded by Mr Bain, that the accounts be not; audited, Upon a show of hands, the amendment was declared carried, Here followed a long and rather warm discussion respecting the accounts in which many gentlemen took part. Mr M'Leod requested that the letter 1)0 mad asking the Library Committee to take charge of Athenaeum building. Mr Moggath then read the following letter : —

Waitahuna, Nov. 38, 1870. Waitaliuna Athenaeum Committee, To the Secretary of the Waitahuna Public Library Committee, Sib,--=I am instructed by the above jianied Committee, to state that a public meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 23, for the purpose of electing a new Athenaeum Committee. The present Athenaeum Committee are of opinion that as the Public Library is an integral part of the Athenseum and having a (Wuajra.te gommittee, it would be advisable

in their opinion to let one committee have the entire charge of the Athenseum. The attendance of the Public Library Committe on Monday next, is therefore respectfully requested, that if it should be the wish of the public, and they ai*e themselves willing to accept thft trnst, the entire management should be handed over to them. Your Committee will understand this as only a suggestion on the part of the Athenaeum Committee, as they have no power to hand the building over to the Library Committee — the docision resting with the public. I am, &c,

Jambs Moggath, Sec. Athenaeum Committee. Mr Moggath would like to ask Mr M'Leod if he was present at the meeting held last Monday.

Mr M'Leod said he was not.

Mr Mogsjath said he thought not, or he would not have uttered such calumnious reports as he had done.

Mr M'Leod explained, and thought he had made a sufficient apology when he gave up the name of his author for the statement he made. Whatever he said that might be deemed amiss, must be put down to the anxiety and interest ho felt iv the prosperity of the Athenaeum. At present it Avas little more than one in name. He thought sufficient funds should be raised to provide magazines, periodicals, &c, and so make the institution an attraction of an evening, instead of being obliged to go to places of worse resort.

Mr. Bayliss then said he thought it time to pi*oceed with the business of the evening, viz., the election of a new Athenaeum Committee. He supposed if a new committee were elected, and they like to take charge, they need not open the doors to the Library Committee. Therefore, to avoid clashing, he would propose to elect a small committee, say five, whose term of office shall expire at the same time as Library Committee, and that they should act in unison for the benefit of the institution.

Mr. Fry seconded this proposition. Mr. Ferris wished to say a few words before the proposition was put to the meeting. He was sorry the Library Committee did not act more according to the wishes of the public. He thought some arrangement might be come to. If the Library Committee resigned, they could be re-elected, and the building handed over to them. It would be better to have only one committee.

Mr. Sydney Wilson did not see any object to be gained, by asking the Library Committee to resign. The Athenaeum Committee were elected to take charge of the building, such as keeping it in repair and good order, &c. There ought to be no sucli thiug as clashing The Athenseum Committee had one set of duties to perform, and the Library Committee another. He should therefore propose an amendment, that five be added to the Library Committee. The amendment was lost. .Mr Bayliss' motion was then put and carried. The following five gentlemen were

then elected as a committee to act with the Library Committee : — Messrs O'Keeffe, Moggath, Turnbull, Ferris, and Fry.

Mr Bell moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman for his great patience and urbrnity in the performance of a somewhat arduous duty, which was carried unanimously. The meeting then separated,