TURAKINA MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1883, 18 June 1863, Page 3

TURAKINA MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING.

The firat annual meeting of this Society, was held in the School-house, Turakina, on Thursday, 28th May, 1863, when the Secretary read the following report : —

Our Mutual Improvement Society has closed its first years operations. Its beginning was characterised by simple yet earnest efforts, springing from the conviction that it behoves every man to aid his neighbors in every ■ possible way. A course of 9 lectures have been delivered on various subjects, and the interest excited encourages the Committee to hopa that they may continue as one of the permanent agencies of the Society. The Committee desire to express their obligation to their much valued friends, the lecturers, for their kind and able co-operation. The Committee cannot omit to recognise one grand result of their efforts, viz,, the circulation of 13 monthly periodicals— The British Quarterly Review, BlaKkwoo&s Magazine,'Cornhill Magazine, Chamber's Journal, Leisure Hour, Sunday at Home, Good Words, Evangelical Christendom, Illustrated London News, Free Church Record, Jewish Intelligencer, Punch, and Smith, Elder, & Go.'s Monthly Circular, which have tended to infuse a spirit of enquiry among the members oi the Society. The Balance Sheetembracestheincome and expenditure of 18 months. INCOME. £ s. d. To subscriptions, Ist half-year 5 15 0 „ 2nd , 6 0 0 " 3rd !, 6 5 0: „ Donations 0 }% ,<» Fines 0 MM 19 8 4 „ Balance due Treasurer..... 2 5 10£ 21 14 2J EXPENMTUKE.

By periodicals andpOßting of do., Ist half-year... G 4 7 „ Bill of Exchange and Posting 0 18 „ Periodicals and postage of do.,2nd half-year. 9 10 -„ Bill of Exchange and Postage 0 7 U „ Periodicals and posting of do., 3rd half-year. 5 1G 4 „ Bill of Exchange and Postage 0 3 6 21 14 2± In conclusion the Committee would suggest that immediate steps be taken to enlarge the operations of the Society establishing a permanent londing library for the district of Turakina, (by subscriptions and donations of money and periodicals, mapß, &c.,) and the opening of classes for the further improvement of the members of the Bociety. The Committee hope that the day is not far distant when a reading room ■will be established in connection therewith. Signed on behalf of the Committee, It. J. Allswoeth, President Geokge Franklin, Secretary. After the reading of this report it was moved by'Mr Alex. Simpson, and seconded by Mx Henry Amphlet, that the report just read be adopted. Carried unanimously. ' The following gentlemen were then elected members of Committee for the ensuing year : — Messrs N. #f Beamish. R. M'Ally J. H. Hurst, H. A. Moore, G. Franklin, J. Chapman, H. Amphlet, A. Simpson, J. Stewart, J. Wilson, K. Wilson, and Chas. Cameron. The Rev. R. J. Allsworth, was elected President, Mr A, Simpson Treasurer, and Mr Q. Franklin, Secretary for the ensuing year. Mr H. Amphlett having consented to act as auctioneer, proceeded to dispose of the Periodicals for the past year (by Dutch auction), which realised the Bum of £7 7s. 6d. The sum thus realised was applied first in payment of the balance due to the Treasurer, and the remainder to be sent to England per first mail, for books to commence a library.

The Alpaoa. — The Lyttelton limes, of the fith inst. says : — "Private advices from Melbourne mention the daily expected arrival of a vessel from South America with 500 alpacas, which will be offered by auction immediately on their arrival. We hear that they will be put up in lots of four — three females and one male — and it is supposed that they will prove very superior in quality to those introduced to Sydney by Mr Ledger. There is now little doubt that the climate of Canterbury is well suited to the alpaca, and that those stoukowners who have sufficient enterprise to introduce this valuable animal here will ultimately reap a rich jeward. We hear that the Provincial Government may possibly purchase a pen, and we would urge those who entertain the same idea to lose no time in sending orders to their agents in Melbourne. As a guide to then probable value, we may mention that they are not landed in Melbourne under £100 each.