A Chat about the Society's Past. 35 



The Society wag much improved, and when Mr. W. Russell was 

 President he offered valuable money prizes for essays, which were pub- 

 lished ; later came " Timehri" which has undoubtedly brought the 

 Society before the world. 



But another impetus was required and this came without a catas- 

 trophe. In 1886 the colony was much depressed and it was felt that the 

 Society's subscriptions were too high. Led by Mr. Mewburn Garnett, 

 who belonged to a family of which several members had long been 

 conn ected with the Society, a motion was brought forward to reduce 

 subs criptions. When this was introduced Mr. VV. Russell, then President, 

 said he had never before seen so many at a general meeting. The Direc- 

 tors were not altogether pleased at the remarks made which they 

 consiered as reflections on their management, and therefore when the 

 resoldtion for reducing subscriptions was passed, the President and one of 

 the Directors resigned. 



At first it seemed as if the income under the new rules would 

 decrease but when a few years afterwards the number of members 

 became greater than ever before (or since) the move was justified. A 

 series of popular lectures was started and many improvements made, so 

 we may safely state that this was another step forward. 



Unfortunately, however, there came a great drawback through the 

 removal of the Post Office and the Pilot establishment which resulted in a 

 considerable reduction of the rents. This hampered progress and stopped 

 " Timehri." To add to the financial difficulties the grant to the Museum 

 was reduced to less than half. However the Society has survived in spite 

 of the croakers who suggested that the Museum should be handed over to 

 the Government. 



The Society's Work. 



Some will ask whether the position to-day justifies the Society's 

 existence ? What has it done ? 



The first answer I can give from my own experience. When a person 

 goes into a new place he wants to find a library with books that will tell 

 him about the country. This has been provided by the Society through a 

 period of about sixty years when there was no public library, and when 

 hardly anyone had a private one. The necessity for a supervised collection 

 of books is obvious ; unfortunately for the book lover his volumes cannot 

 be left alone without risk even for a few months. The result is that few 

 people attempt to keep books, and therefore the lending from one to 

 another so common in England is unknown here. The Society has pro- 

 vided a library with a unique collection of local works, so desirable to 

 every new-comer and even to many old colonists. 



The second great work of the Society is the Museum. It is true 

 that it is now supported by the Government grant, but much has been 

 spent in the past from the Society's funds. I will not say more, for it is 

 open to the inspection of the public, 



