WELLINGTON" ATHENEUM.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1883, 18 June 1863, Page 2

WELLINGTON" ATHENE UM.

We recently reported the twenty-first Annual Meeting of thU Society, and were happy in beiug enabled to chronicle that its affairs were iv a satisfactory condition and its sphere of usefulness gradually increasing. Since then the Secietavy has handed us a copy of the Annual Report of which the following is a summary : — The Committee have much pleasure in reporting that His Excellency Sir George Grey has consented to become a Patron of the Institute. O\vjmg to the representations of several gentlemen who agreed to become members in the event of the Institution ; being opened during the day, this step was tak!en and has been productive of considerable benefit both to City

residents and visitors from the who have ihus an opportunity afforded thera^of read* . ing the English and Colonial .journals,, in the reading room, which is now open dailyfrom 10 to 5 and from 7 to 10, under the charge of Mr Duck. In addition to nearly all the leading New Zealand and Colonial journals, the follow* ing English papers and serial 'publications will be found on the table. Papers: Illustrated * London News, Punch, Home News*, Evening Mail, Weekly Dispatch, and Public Opinion. Serials : Quarterly Pevtew y Edinburgh Review, Blackwood's Magazine, Cornliiil Magazine, Eraser's Magazine, London Society, McMillan, Once a Week, Chamber's Journal, Leisure Hour, All the Year Bound, London Journal, Cassell's Paper, Cottage Gardener, Saturday Review and The Atkeneeum. , '■ .

Donations of books have been received during the past year from the Lord Bishop of Wellington, Judge Johnston, Mr W. B. D. Mantell, and Messrs G. Moore, C. J. Pharazyo, A. De B, Brandon, G. Turnbull, P. Laing, D. Anderson, W. Mowbray, R. Hart, Captain Wilson, Major Dwyer, Captain Edwards, 14th Regiment, Lieutenant Willis, 14th Regiment and. Dr France. .

A laige addition of books has been made to the library in this way, which with afresh shipment of 100 vols received from Charles Mudie, Esq, London, per the Ellon Castle, gives an additional number amounting to 470 vols.

The annual subscription has now been fixed at 20s ; the first half-year it was optionally 12s 6d, or 20s, but the increased benefits now - 4 afforded by the Institute, warrants the Committee in adopting the higher scale. During the year, sixteen lectures and readings have heen delivered by the .President and several other gentlemao, who take a warm in* terest in the progress of the Institution. The sum of £100 was granted by the Provincial Council during the last session but one, which has enabled the Committee to put the building in a propel state of repair* . It i 3 to be hoped that the Council may further be induced to place a sum on the estimates for the purpose of rendering the rooms- raora available and useful to the population of the Province generally. ' , The conversazione held at the Odd Fellow's Hall on 10th September, 1862, was a decided success, and tended to vender the Institute more popular in the eyes of the coratnunity.at large. There is some prospect that a portion 1 of a sum of money amounting to £57 15s sd, which had been offered as a public reward, and never claimed, will fall into the funds of the Institute, several of • the subscribers having agreed that their subscriptions should be so applied. The Committee hare also to notice the liberality of Messrs Stokes, Lyon and Moore. The first gentleman for having cancelled his account ugainst the Institute, and the two latter named gentlemen for having cancelled. certain debentures held by them. A resolution has also been adopted which, while keeping the annual subscription at 20s fixes it at 10s for ladies and at a similar sum for juveniles. •■ Members are also to be allowed to introduce strangers, who are entitled to all the privileges of the Institute for one month, and for a period of three months on payment of ss. The following is an abstract of the Balance Sheet presented with the Report.