The amendment lapsed, not being seconded. Mr C. S. Reeves said that if money could be found to provide proper accommodation he would support the resolution, but in the meantime counselled delay. Mr Cohen spoke strongly in sup port of the motion, and cited the experi ence of the Christchurch A then mum as an argument for the proposal. The sole ques tion before the meeting that night was the popularising of the institution, and if sub scribers were desirous that it should be popularised they should give a plain answer to the Committee in that direction. Mr R. S and!lands hoped the motion would be carried, as a step towards what must come in the near future a free library. A vote was taken, and there voted for the motion 83, against it 95 ; the motion being lost by 12 votes. FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. Mr J. Johnston moved—"That this meeting is of opinion that the Athenaeum should, as sooa as can conveniently be done, be made a free public library, and that it instructs the Athemeum Committee to be now elected to hand over the institution to the City Council whenever the Council shall be in a position to carry it on as a free public library, or with a lower sub scription than would be necessary other wise.” He maintained that the motion should be adopted on the grounds of justice and mercy in accordance with the principles of the OJd and New Testaments. He thought there could be no question as to the intentions of the founders of the institu tion, they had never been denied, and never fulfilled. Were they going to allow this state of things to continue ? The-chairman was of opinion that the motion was nonsense just now, but he might be of a different opinion 100 years hence.—(Laughter.) Mr H. S. Fish seconded the resolution. He looked upon the motion as one of more importance than the chairman and some other members of the meeting might con sider it. It was said it was not of import ance because it did not effect anything immediately, but it was of importance in ibis way.; the City Council if approached in a half-hearted way would say it might mean another rate, and that they did not care about it. 