Athenæum and Mechanics' Institute.

William Hamilton, Librarian.

There are a few interesting items in the history of this institution which I venture to record very briefly. A site for an institute was first granted in 1843, on Lambton Quay, by the then Governor, Captain Fitzroy, and the first stone of the building, which bore the name of the "Port Nicholson Mechanics' Institute, Public School, and Library," was laid with Masonic honours in May 1844, Colonel Wakefield being president, and John Knowles, Secretary of the undertaking. Owing to unfavourable circumstances the building was not opened until 1849, 250 volumes being then upon the shelves, purchased for £20, sent to England in the previous year.

The New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Straits Guardian of May 9th, 1849, records that Mr. Bushell had been appointed librarian at 6s. a-week! and the same paper for 7th November, 1849, records a balance of £5 4s. old., and notes that £ 10 had been sent home to England for more books, and that £ 1 had been expended in binding. The institute, from various causes, did not receive the support, or create the interest which it was hoped, and after six-and-twenty years the Legislature was applied to for powers to build and to incorporate. An Act of Incorporation was accordingly passed in 1875, the President at that time being the Hon. William Fitz-Herbert, C.M.G., and the Secretary, Walter Hill.

The New Zealand Times of 28th March, 1876, reporting the annual meeting of the institute, records the fact that there were then 700 volumes—250 being added in 1875— page 17 that there were 550 members, and a small balance at the bank. On the 20th January, 1877, on the site of the old buildings, was laid the first stone of the present handsome wooden buildings, by the Marquis of Normanby, then Governor of New Zealand; these were completed at a cost of £8,000. The library and reading-rooms are open daily (Sundays and public holidays excepted) from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The subscription is 21s. per annum, or for youths under 17 years of age 10s. 6d. The rules, which were drawn up at the incorporation, seem very suitable and work well. There is a separate room for ladies; two reading-rooms, one for daily papers the other for weeklies. The library is contained in a room 30 ft. by 40 ft. square—members have access to the shelves. The record of borrowings is kept under the name of the borrower. The annual general meeting of the Athenaeum is held in May.

In May 1884 there were 682 members, 9,000 volumes, 507 having been added during the previous year, and 19,627 having been in circulation. £219 was spent on books, papers and binding, and there was a balance of £143. There is at present no printed catalogue. In 1883, the idea of printing was mooted, but met with little encouragement from the members of the Athenaeum.

Two attempts have been made in Wellington to start a Free Public Library under the Act, for which the imposition of a penny rate would have been necessary, but both have been unsuccessful, the opponents of the movement being three times as numerous as the supporters. The officers of the Athenaeum would have been quite ready to hand over the building and library entirely into the hands of the City Council for the free library, but apparently the people of Wellington are quite contented with the present state of things. The Wellington Athenaeum receives no support now whatever from Government, but depends entirely upon the subscriptions of its members, and the rents received for a portion of its premises; it is however, in its way, doing good work in Wellington, and is paving the way for an eventual Free Public Library.