MEETING OF THE ATHENAEUM SUBSCRIBERS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 304, 22 July 1868, Page 2

MEETING OF THE ATHENAEUM SUBSCRIBERS.

A public meeting, according to announcement, was held last night at the Empire Hotel, of those interested in the establishment of an Athenaeum. Mr M'Dowell in the chair. The Provisional Committee, by their hon. sec. Mr Whiteford, handed in the following report, which was received on the mo I ion of Mr Atkinson, seconded by Mr M'Nab : REPOBT OP PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE. "At a Public Meeting held at the empire Hotel for the purpose of tak

ing steps to establish a Literary and Scientific Institution, in Westport. " It was agreed that such an Institution should be established under the name of the Westport Athenceum. A subscription list was at once opened, and a P. C. was appointed for the purpose of making all necessary enquiries, and recommending to a future meeting such a course &c, of proceeding as might seem most advisable.

" In executing these duties the P.C. has been a good deal delayed by the necessity of corresponding with the Provincial Government at Nelson, and the difficulty of obtaining replies during the sitting of the Provincial Council, as well as by the number of alternatives whichhave presented them selves for consideration, both as to the fundamental constitution of the proposed institution, and the most effectual way of carrying out its objects when established. "With respect to these matters, although there are some points which still admit of doubt, and are capable of being profitably'discussed by the subscribers, the Provisional Committee is of opinion that the statements made in the preseut report will be of material service in enabling the subscribers to come to a decision.

" The objects of the proposed Athenaeum are, it is presumed, to supply the public with intellectual recreation at a cheap rate, to place within their reach the best newspaper and current literature of the day, and to furnish them with the means of access to such a collection of useful and standard works as would be beyond the compass of ordinary private libraries. " The first question which has presented itself for the consideration of the Provisional Committee is, whether it is desirable, or not, to accept aid from the Provincial Grovernr ment in establishing aud supporting the Athenaeum. The answer to this question has not proved so obvious or so easy as might be supposed. " During the recent session of the Provincial Council a grant of £2OO was voted for assistance in the establishment of public libraries on the West Coast. There is moreover, a further vote of £3OO in aid of public libraries in country districts. The object of the latter fund is understood to be to suppiemeut the local subscriptions for the purpose of buying books.

" These two funds, therefore, are intended for the establishment and support of public libraries, and institutions which receive assistance therefrom must be constituted as public libraries, and must comply with the conditions specified in resolutions passed by the Provincial Council on the 28th June, 1807. These conditions are for the most part very simple, and require no particular notice here, with the exception of one, which requires that the annual subscription of each member shall not exceed ten shillings per annum.

" The application of this condition to a public library on the West Coast is attended with some difficulty, however well adapted it may be to the country districts near Nelson. The subscriptionagreed upon at the preliminary meeting at Westport was two guineas per annum, aud if it were a question whether it were better to rely entirely upou subscribers of that amount, or to adopt a subscription of 10s only, supplemented by such G-overument aid as can be obtained, the Provional Committee would feel great hesitation in recommending the acceptance of any assistance from the Provincial funds, believing that the amount so raised would not be sufficient for the maintenance of such an institution as the people of Westport are desirous ef establishing. " The only way of escape from this difficulty is to have more than one class of subscribers, the class which subscribes 10s only, being admitted Jto those advantages which belong strictly to a public library, and subscribers of larger amounts being entitled to other privileges. "The example of the Nelson Institute may be some guide in this matter. A distinction is there made between the library and reading room, and a separate subscription of 10s is required to each of these departments. Subscribers to the library are allowed to take out books, and subscribers to the reading room in addition are entitled to read the newspapers and periodicals which lie on the table. " The Provisional Committee recommends that the library and reading room of the Athenaßun\ should be constituted as in Nelson, two distinct departments, but are decidedly of opinion that subscribers to the library should not be allowed, without a further payment, to take out books, aud that the privilege of taking books homo for pe'usal is in no way necessary to the dea of a public library. 1

"It is presumed that the object of the Government in affording aid to public libraries, is to place within the reach of the subscribers a collection of good books in all departments of literature, the accpiisition of which would be beyond the private means of most individuals. The subscribers ought to be allowed, whenever the library is open, to have access to the books, and to read any of them on the spot; and this, it appears to the Provisional Committee is all that is necessary to constitute a public library. The experience of other institutions, moreover, abundantly proves that when books are allowed to be taken out for a small subscription, the supply of bo ks will correspond to the demand thus created, the shelves of the library will be deluged with a mass of trashy fiction, and the fundamental idea of a Literary Institute will be, in a great measure, subverted. The Provisional Committee desire strenuously to urge upon the promoters of the Athenseutn the expediency of avoiding the competition with the cheap circulating libraries, which is sure to arise if books are allowed to be taken out by the lowest class of subscribers. " The recommendations of the Provisional Committee, in relation to the points above considered, are the folowing:—

" That subscribers of 10s per annum shall have access to the library, and a right to read any of the books during the hours to be prescribed for that purpose.

" That subscribers of one guinea per annum shall have, in addition, admission to the reading-room, for the purpose of reading the periodicals placed on the table.

"That subscribers of two guineas shall have, in addition to the above privileges, the right of taking books out of the library, subject to such conditions or exceptions as may be hereafter provided. " It is also suggested that it might perhaps be found desirable to make special provision for enabling subscribers to the library only to take out books under special circumstances, e.g., by payment of a deposit in each case, of which a certain per centage might be retained to pay for wear. But this point does not require further notice here.

" The next subjects for consideration are the site and the building. " With regard to a site, the Provisional Committee has considered many alterations, which, however, resolve themselves ultimately into two, viz., either that a site must be bought or leased, or that the Athenaeum must be erected on ground belonging to the Government. The recommendation of the Provisional Committee in this matter is—that a site upon the Camp Reserve, behind the present Grovernment buildings, which has been offered by Mr Kynnersley, should be accepted. " The question—what kind of building should be erected, is one which may advantageously be further discussed. Upon this subject the Provisional Committee has to report that of the sum T of £2OO above referred to as voted by the Provincial Council for the erection of libraries on the "West Coast, the sum of £IOO has been granted by the Government in aid of the Westport Athenasum. The Provisional Committee is of opinion that this sum should not be much exceeded in the actual building, so that the whole, or nearly the whole, of the local subscriptions to be raised, may be available for the purchase of books, and carrying on the working of the institution.

" The exact quantity of ground which will be given on the Camp Reserve for the purpose of an Athenasum is not yet ascertained, but the Provisional Committee has reason to believe that it will not be large enough to admit of the erection of a hall for lectures in addition to the library and reading room. It appears undesirable to build a lecture hall unless one could be built of sufficient size to answer all the purpose i for which such rooms are likely to be required. With regard to this subject, it has been proposed that a room should be built which might be useful for other purposes besides those of the Athenaeum, and it has been suggested that rent might be obtained from the Masonic and other bodies. The Provisional Committee think it sufficient to bring this suggestion under the notice of the subscribers, without making any definite recommendation on the subject. "Taking into consideration, therefore, the limited size of the ground likely to be made available, and the expediency of retaining sufficient means for the purchase of books and periodicals, the recommendation of the Provisional Committee is that the building to be erected should consist of a library and reading-room, and that these

rooms"should be fitted up with a viei to rendering them as convenient an attractive to subscribers as the avail able means will permit. " The subscription list which wa commenced at tho preliminary meel ing is now laid upon the table, and i will be seen that the total amoun promised is £l6l 12s. It is to be ob B3rved that the whole of these sub scriptions are on the highest scale viz., two guineas, and therefore a con siderable accession of subscribers maj be expected upon the lower scales when the programme of the Athenatum is fairly before the public. " The above remarks indicate al that the Provisional Committee hav< to say upon the general scheme o operations which it seems desirable t( adopt. Other matters will more pro perly fall to the consideration of th< subscribers, or of the permanent committee to be appointed by them. " The substantive recommendations which the Provisional Committee has now to make, and which may be partly be gathered from what has gone before, are: —That a committee of management, consisting of not less than five members, including a Secretary and Treasurer, be appointed to hold office for one year. That the Treasurer be authorised to receive the sum of £IOO promised by the Government, as well as all other moneys subscribed or paid to the Athenarum. " That the Committee be authorised to take immediate steps for the purpose of obtaining a definite area on the Camp Reserve, for erecting a suitable building thereon, for collecting funds for the Athenaeum, and for framing Rules and Regulations for its proper conduct. " That the building consist of a Library and Reading Room, and that its cost shall not much exceed £IOO, unless the Permanent Committee find it possible and expedient to carry out ihe suggestion before mentioned as to the erection of a room or hall, for which rent might be obtained. " That there be three classes of subscribers at 10s, 21s, and 42s annually, and that subscribers of these amounts shall be entitled to the respective privileges before recommended. " That the committee be requested, so soon as the funds available for books can be ascertained, to make application to the Provincial G-overnment for a portion of the grant set apart for the purchase of books. " With these recommendations the Provisional Committee now resigns its office, and in so doing desires to thank the public for the patience with which they have waited for this roport, and to express a hope that the preliminary difficulties are now so far overcome that there remains no real obstacle to the acquisition by the people of Westport of a Literary Institution which may be to them a substantial means of intellectual cultivation and recreation. C. Whitefobd.

Hon. Sec. Dr Giles moved —" That a Committee of nine members be appointed to manage the affairs of the Institution, and hold office for the next twelve months." Mr O'Conor seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. A discussion arose as to whether it was advisable to proceed with the election at once, and it was ultimately resolved, on the motion of the Eev. "W. Harvey—'• That a committee should be then selected." The following gentlemen were nominated:—Dr Giles, Eev. W. Harvey, Messrs Whiteford, Kerr, Munro, Atkinson, M'Dowell, O'Conor, Martin, Smith, Tyler, M'Nab, Powell, Moore, and Harris. The following gentlemen were then elected:— Dr Giles, Eev. W. Harvey, Messrs O'Conor, Kerr, "Whiteford, M'Dowell, Tyler, Harris, and Munro. Mr Whiteford was appointed hon. sec, and Mr Kerr hon. treasurer to the institution. It was resolved also—"That the committee should have power to make rules, and that they should be empowered to fill up any vacancies that might arise in the committee during their term of office." A vote of thanks to the Provisional Committee and the Chairman, concluded the proceedings.