The annual meeting of the members of the Mechanic's Institute of Minnigaff and Newton-Stewart, was held in the Town Hall, on Thursday. night-Mr McGeoch, vice-president, in the chair.

Mr McCONNACHIE: having read the minutes of the last meeting, which were approved.

Mr McFARLANE treasurer, submitted tho annual statement, from which it appeared that the total income amounted to 14s 11½d, while the expenditure; was. £67 3s 0½d, leaving a balance of , £6 1111s 11d to the credit of the Institute..

Mr HARDING. librarian, gave in the following report :-The membership is 130, being an increase of 23 over last year. Amount received for subscriptions, £16 18s 9d. Number of volumes added, 182; number of readers, 81. Number of books issued during the year, in Poetry, 39; Biography, 41; History, 76; Religious Works, 29; Science and Art, 56; Miscellaneous, 82; Travels, 66; Fiction, 323; Magazines, 87 -Total 709.

Mr HARDING then read the subjoined statement: I hope to be allowed to make a few remarks, 1st. To may a word on behalf of the committee, 2nd, Briefly to review the past management of the Institute and its bearing on the present, and tendency to our future condition, 3rd. Suggestions, and finaly motions. First, I beg to thank the committee on my own part for their kindness towards me, like former office-bearers whom I had the pleasure to serve, their sympathy was with me in so far as giving me as little trouble as possible. I never considered anything a trouble that would benefit the members. At my suggestion the committee agreed to open the library to the members three nights a week instead of two, during winter, and close it for an indefinite period daring summer, so as to enable them to have all the books called in, and have an opportunity of inspecting the library, that books requiring repairs might be done before the winter sermon, On the removal of the president I need not dwell. He was the leader of a deputation who waited on the Town Council and very ably advocated tho claims of the. Institute for a grant from the Lees Bequest, and was successful. The money, expended in, books, seems to have gone farther than others purchased for the same amount, although it cannot be said that the choice has been to the members altogether satisfactory. Another important change is that we paid full price for all our now papers, and we now file the Illustrated papers, the Galloway Gazette. &c. The other daily and weekly papers are sold at half-price, thanks to Mr McCredie for his assistance in procuring customers for them. We have 23 more members than at this time last year, and the income from members subscriptions is about £5 more. For this our able and worthy Secretary deserves no small share of the credit. The entertainments have been the only failure, and I am certain no one regrets the loss more than the committee. Our position is very different from what it formerly was. The cost of the newspapers was defrayed from members annual subscription of a guinea and half a guinea. The only expense which the Library committee had to meet was the Librarian's salary and gas, and what remained was applied to purchase or repair of books. For many years the Institute continued in a very flourishing condition, but as the management changed hands there seemed to be less enthusiasm. About nine years ago, the late Mr Anderson dropped into the office of Treasurer to the Reading Room Committee, and brought his influences so far to bear on the subscribers that he induced many of them to remove to his shop where he opened the "New Club News-Room." The Library Committee came in for their share of the loss, as from them the papers had to be paid. The loss here is certainly great. We are in receipt of the Ferguson Bequest grant, and that grant is equal to half the members' subscriptions. Suppose - our annual subscription from members amounted to £16, and the expenses £6, that sum, if applied to purchase or repair of books would secure the maximum grant of £8 worth, which ought to keep an annual addition to the library of between 200 and 300 volumes. Were it not that some of this entertainments were successful we could not have been able to add any books to the library. The condition on which that grant can be obtained is specified, and a schedule must be accurately filled up and signed by the library committee, and if satisfied then the books are forwarded. The charge for the library is 2s 6d per member, and to pay the cost of the newspapers is not in keeping with the regulations. Better to make a nominal charge, say 1s, making the subscription 3s which surely would be no hardship to any - member. This I anticipate would add about £6 to our present income. To that might be added the donations we receive amounting to £7, and the £4 drawn for the sale of the papers, entry money and other odds and ends that come in set down at £1, in all £18, which would put us independent of entertainment. These certainly I would not object to, but before speculating the members should be consulted. I shall close these remarks with the following motions: -1st. That we adhere to rules 1 and 2 of the Library. 2nd. That a shilling per members be charged for tho newspapers. 3rd. That no books be purchased until a list be submitted to a general meeting subject to alteration or approval, 4th. That there be a half-yearly general meeting of the members for the purpose of giving in the half-yearly report, and that meeting shall decide as to the entertainments in winter.

The CHAIRMAN said that he thought it was, -hardly competent for a paid official to propose motions.

Mr McKEAND said Mr Harding took a warm interest-none warmer-in the welfare of the Institute still it was a question whether it was competent to make any alteration in connection with the rules of the Association.

The CHAIRMAN -The motion ought to be laid on the table and a special meeting would be called in a month.

Mr McKEAND did not think it was necessary to lave these rules altered. The cheaper they could accommodate the youth and working men in the Institute the better. Their great forte had always been to give the working men access to the reading room and library for very little.

Mr HARDING said the competency of his motion was perfect so long as there was nothing in the rules to prevent him. He agreed with Mr McKeand that the Institute should be made as cheap as possible, but this could not be done more effectually than by adopting the motions he had proposed, If as small a sum as 1d brought in 130 pence, then if they paid 1s more, which was very little, they would have £6, and that would be a real benefit. It was quite different from the case of a merchant like Mr McKeand who might increase the price of his goods and give no better value. (Laughter.) Every member got full value for his money.

Mr McKEAND was glad that the Institution had even grown with the sum they had been getting for a long time past. He was very much apposed to raising the fees unless it was from those who wanted to take advantage of the reading room before six o'clock. It was to the advantage of everyone that the subscriptions should be as cheap as possible. While other Institutions were taking 4s or 6s they had been managing for 2s 6d, and it was much to their credit that they could provide a library and reading room for such a small sum.

Mr HARDING pointed out that under the present arrangement there was some difficulty connected with the Fergusson bequest, and it was essential that some charge, however little, should be made for the papers.

Mr PARK said it seemed to be a waste of time discussing a motion which had not been seconded.

Mr McKEAND---Does it not require to lie on the table for a month?

The CHAIRMAN-Yes.

Mr PARK-Then it will be time enough to discuss it then.

Mr FINDLAY-Is Mr Harding a member of the Institute?

Mr HARDING-Yes, sir.

Mr FINDLAY-Then he can move a motion.

Mr McCONNACHIE - He is not on the roll, --(laughter)-but being a servant of the Association is he not a member?

Mr FINDLAY-I do not see that that follows.

Mr PARK-I think we should pass on to the next business, we have not come here to discuss a motion which is not competent.

On the motion of Mr McKEAND seconded by Mr McCAA, the reports which had been read were then adopted.

Mr McCREDIE, seconded by Mr WILLIAM HUNTER, proposed that the Right Hon. the Earl of Galloway, Captain Maxwell Heron, M.P. and Mr Stopford Blair, be re-elected patrons.

Mr McKEAND proposed that the name of Captain Hay should be added to the list of patrons.

The CHAIRMAN said the next office was that of president.

Mr McKEAND proposed that Mr Findlay should be elected for this post but he declined to act.

Mr McKEAND, then nominated Mr McGeoch who likewise declined the honour.

Mr McFARLANE, seconded by Mr McCREDIE proposed the election of Captain Hay which was agreed to.

Mr McKeand--will he accept office ?

Mr PARK-I was wondering what had become of the Dalrymple Hay company this year.

Mr McFARLANE said they would remember that Captain Hay at one of their meetings said he would do anything that lay in his power for the Association, and they had reason to believe that the would accept office.

Mr McGeoch, Mr McFarlane, and Mr Park were nominated for the office of vice-president, but they all declined, Mr Park suggesting that they should cast lots.

Mr HUNTER then nominated Mr McKeand.

Mr McKEAND said he would rather some younger man would come forward as he had been in office for upwards of 40 years.

Mr HARDING-The Institution has not been in existence so long.

Mr McKEAND --There were other societies, literary and mutual improvement, and the one was merged into the other.

Mr HARDING beg to differ with you.

MR FINDLAY seconded the nomination of Mr :McKEAND who was ultimately declared elected.

Mr John Park was appointed secretary in place of Mr McConnachie who declined re-election; and Mr William Hunter was chosen as treasurer in place of Mr McFarlane who likewise declined to again accept office. It was suggested that the members of the general committee should be re-elected, but Mr McConnachie pointed out that the Rev. Mr Inglis, one of the number, had not attended any of the meetings. The following gentlemen were then named, Messrs Anderson, Findlay, McCredie, McKeand, McCaa, and McGeoch; and for the library committee. Messrs McKeand, McGeoch, McCredie, and McFarlane, with the treasurer ex-officio, were elected, Messrs Jas. Peattie and Jas. Kinna were re-elected auditors.

Mr RODERICK McLEAN inquired as to the time when, there had been a revision of the library, and suggested that it should take place annually; and Mr McKeand said he thought the museum-(laughter} --which was growing to considerable dimensions should also be revised and catalogued.

It was understood that these matters would receive the attention of the committee, and the usual votes of thanks having been accorded to the office-bearers and the chairman, the proceedings. terminated.