NELSON INSTITUTE. 



Annual Report. 



The committee have much pleasure in presenting to members of the 

 Institute the annual report and balance-sheet for the past year. 



The receipts for the year from all sources amounted to £279 6s. 3d., 

 and the expenditure to £269 14s. 5d., leaving a credit balance of 

 £9 lis. lOd. It will be noted with satisfaction that the receipts from sub- 

 scriptions amounted to £175 4s. 3d.— an increase of £28 7s. 5d. over last 

 year. The number of subscribers on the books is 235 — 130 annual sub- 

 scribers, fifty-five half-yearly, and fifty quarterly. 



About 180 volumes of new works have been purchased during the 

 year, the selection including, in addition to fiction, a proportion of works 

 on general literature, travel, science, biography, &c, with the view of 

 making the Institute useful for general literary and educational purposes, 

 as well as providing for those who prefer lighter literature. The commit- 

 tee have al?o purchased the latest edition of new volumes of the "Ency- 

 clopaedia Britannica," at a cost of £11 10s. Several new magazines and 

 periodicals have been added during the year, and members now have the 

 advantage of a large and varied selection of the best illustrated papers, 

 reviews, magazines, and periodical literature. 



The lessee of the Gordon Accommodation-house Reserve has com- 

 plied with the improvement conditions of his lease to the satisfaction of 

 the committee. 



With regard to the Tadmor land, the committee have thought it best 

 to defer dealing with it until the section of railway now in progress is 

 completed, when it is hoped the unliable timber can be disponed of to 

 advantage and the land let on lease. 



The free reading-room has been well attended by the public, a large 

 number of readers frequenting it during both day and evening. 



The sum of £20 8s. 3d. has been received for the general funds of the 

 Institute as proceeds of a very successful musical and dramatic entertain- 

 ment given by Nelson amateurs, and the committee is assured that the 

 hearty thanks of all our members will be accorded to Miss H. Reeves and 

 the ladies and gentlemen who kindly assisted to make the entertainment 

 a success. 



The committee desire to record their thanks to those who have kindly 

 placed magazines and periodicals in the reading-rooms for the use of 

 members, and to those who have generously presented books to the 

 Institute. 



The committee also again desires to express its appreciation at the 

 efficient manner in which the duties of librarian have been performed 

 by Miss Reeves, and the keen interest displayed by her on behalf of the 

 Institute. 



A noteworthy event of the past year has been the splendid gift made 

 to the Institute by Mrs. A. S. Atkinson of a fine 5 in. refracting telescope 

 constructed by the well-known firm of Messrs. Cooke and Sons, of York, 

 and valued at about £300. This instrument is equatorially mounted, and 

 has a driving-clock with attachments, besides clamps and slow motions 



