The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-17 00:00:00

POOLE.
POOLE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE
FESTIVAL

On Monday evening, the 9th inst., the annual fes-
tival of the Poole Mechanics' Institute was held at
the Townhall. There was a large attendance,
indeed, the hall was inconveniently crowded, from
the fact of numbers of persons being admitted by
payment, although tickets, had been mold for the full
number the building would comfortably accommo-
date. The crowded state of the room naturally
caused considerable confusion ; and during the tea
seems occurred which were perfectly ludicrous. The
closely-packed company prevented the committee
and others who busied themselves in providing for
the wants of the audience from passing from table to
table w about considerable difficulty. The large
party soon exhausted the stock of the commissariat
department, and committee men and others might
have been seen running breathless from baker's shop
to baker's shop during the progress of the repast,
hastily bargaining for edibles for the feeding of the
multitude. At the conclusion of the tea, the audi-
ence made an attempt to leave the hall by the back
entrance, but the stairs being filled with a crowd of
itersons determined to effect an entrance, a "deal
lock" ensued, and made " confusion worse con•
founded," and it was some time before a passage
could be obtained by aid of kind words and police
constables. The company congregated around the
entrance, and it was with difficulty the "crockery,"
urns, &c., could be removed. During this time
several committee men were actively engaged in the
hall, which was still crowded, in the difficult task
of passing tables from the windows into the street.
The arrangements for the ev g meeting being at
length completed, the hall was speedily filled to
overflowing, as many as 600 persons being present.
The chair was announced to be occupied by the
' president, W. Pearce, Esq., but as that gentleman
had not arrived at the hour fixed for the meeting,
Mr. A. S. Hodges, vice-president, took the chair,
and introduced the business of the meeting. The
president shortly after arrived, and offered an
apology for his absence.
The PRILSIDENT then made a few remarks, and in-
troduced H. Denby Seymour, Esq., to the meeting.
H. Dsuev Szvmoen, Esq., M.P., Lose amid
warm greetings, and said: It gives me the greatest
pleasure on such an occasion, when you are met as
the members of the Poole Mechanics' Institution and
inhabitants of the town, to enjoy the gratifications of
society, and hear the delightful music of which we
have already had a specimen. Meetings of this des-
cription are calculated to be of considerable benefit
to the community. The institution of this towu has
been very flourishing. These meetings and such
institutions have become quite a feature in our social
system, and a very important feature it is in connec-
tion with the general progress of education. I hope,
in the course of time, we may see the mechanics' insti-
tute of Poole affiliated with the associated institutes
which are now being held in thia and the neighbour-
ing counties for comb g the various iustitutions. I
hare been connected with associated institutions for
several years, having been for a considerable period
on the committee of the Wilts and Hands combined
institutes which now includes the county of Dorset
I have also been connected with the Somerset
and Dorset associated institutes, which have been
greatly assisted by the exertions of a very distin•
guished gentlemun, Mr. Nlacready, who has applied
himself most actively to the promotion of the object.
Many prizes have been offered, and persevering
young men have succeeded in gaining laurels. A
few weeks since I attended the second annual meet-
ing of the combination of institutes at Sherbert*.
It was a most pleasurable and gratifying occasion.
A young man of Blandford, not more than 14 or 15
years of age, gained prizes (hear.) This movement
is becoming very general. The Right HOD. Mr.
Disraes and latnlStanley delivered two able speeches
at one of the meetings Last year. tlf course every-
body feels in the present day that a man is really
worth only what he knows, If he wishes to succeed
in life in this highly civilised country, he must
nee his talents, and not wrap them in a napkin.
, There is no royal road to learning. It depends
I upon the energy, application, anti industry of the
individual. Education is net confined to men, but
ladies are also embraced, A sign of the progress of
the times is evinced in a picture in a recent number
of the 11ln...too1ed LOllllO,l NetrA, showing an electric
station, the whole worked by young ladies, whose
fingers, not being so cumbrous as the other sex, arc
the more desirable (laughter and applause). In
Switzerland nearly all the watches are made by
young women. In America, where I have been,
there am o not only women employed in all the
delicate trades, but there are also lady professors,
and ladies entered into the various public examin-
ations. These are signs of the times of vrhich our
adecators never dreamed. We are living in an age
of progress. Our advances are marked by greater
control over ourselves, and an increased desire to
fulfil the duties of thore stations which GM has
directed us to occupy. These are the distinguishing
characteristics of of the present day, and long may
they continue (hear). I hope your institution will be
increasingly prosperous. Having entered upon a
new year, I would express a hope that your career
may be one of still greater distinction and success
than your institution has hitherto commanded.
Mechanics' instituti were first established for what
are called the labouring classes. It was subsequently
proved that similar societies were required for the
middle classes. The sacred fire lighted in the upper
ranks has gradually gone on descending anti has
spread through all grades. (treat have been the ad-
vances made. Nothing can strike a person more
forcibly than the efforts made for the elevation of
the people. and the sound sense and extensive know-
ledge displayed by every class. The hon. member
concluded, by expressing a hope that the company
had all enjoyed a merry Christmas, and would now
have a happy New tear, and many of thew.
(Cheers.)
Mr. P. BRANNON, of Southampton, addressed the
meeting at length, pointing out the important part
mechanics' institutes played in educating and eleva-
ting the middle mid working classes.
The Peesinesiz then addressed the meeting, and
in the course of his remarks referred to the advan-
tages which young men of the present day
over those of former times, and expresser:ft:7lw
that they would appreciate the opportunities afforded
them to advance their position in life and conse-
quently their own interests. The President said his
interest, in the Institute was as strong as ever, and he
desired to see it prosperous and flourishing, lie
concluded by calling upon Mr. Holy.
W. T. HALT, Eng., offered some observations.
Mr. HANKER briefly addressed the meeting
After a few very excellent observations from Mr.
A. S. Holmes,
Mr. O. Celan; proposed, and Mr. MATE reconded,
a vote of thruiks to those gentlemen who had Bo
kindly attended Out evening Anti addressed the
meeting. Mr. Curtis also a tttttt unced that Mr. Sey•
u ttttt r had presented the institute with 40 volumes
of books, and Mr. Franklyn had presented a cheque
for 45 to be expended in the purchase of any books
the committee might think tit. (Applause.)
Several other gentleuten had presented books, and
the library numbered now nearly one thousand
voluntes.
'lle proposition was unanimously carried, as was
a vote of thanks to the ladies who made tea, pro-
posed by Mr. Butoreou and seconded by Mr. HALY.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the
proceedings.
We must not omit to mention that the pleasures
of the evening were greatly enhanced by the musi-
cal efforts of Madame Corelli and Miss Fanny
Stephens. The pianoforte performances of Madame
Corelli and the vocal exertions of Miss Fanny Ste-
phens were frequently and warmly applauded.

THE POOLE HARBOUR QUESTION.

PUBLIC MEETING TO BIEMORIALISE GOVERNMENT.

On Monday mat a most influential and respectable
public meeting Wag held at the Guildhall, under
the presidency of the Worshipful the hlayor, to
consider what course should be adopted with
reference to the gradual filling up of Poole Harbour,
and to determine upon the advisability of niemorial-
icing Government to aid in removing the obstruction
%nil forming a new channel. There was a very full
attendance. Amongst those present were T. Phil,.
pant, Esq. (Mayor of Wareluun), David Durell.,
F:sq., (Sheriff of Poole), H. Denby Seymour, Esq.,
M.P. for Poole, .W. l'acke, Esq. M.P. for South
Leicestershire, the Rev. Lord Sidney Godolphin
Osborne, 0. W. Ferrer, Esq., J. C'. hlansel, Esq.,
W. T. Hely, Esq. John Pyne, Esq., M. K. Welch,
Esq., It. Ledger:l, Esq., T. Slade, Esq., J. Slade,
Esq., R. Slade, Evq. (Parkston), David Slade, Esq.,
Thomas Slade, Esq., T. Waithill, Esq., W. L C.
Ailey, Feq., T. C. A. Brine, Esq., C. J. Stone, Esq.,
F. Stynug, Emq., J. Ailey, Esq., J. Lankester, Erg.,
0. Belben. Esq., W. Pearce, Evq., G. Frampton,
Eaq., H. Hams, Esq., It. Parr, Esq., J. (. Whelan,
Esq., T. Durant. Erg., J. Barnes, Esq., 1). Durell,
Esq., J. Goose, kleq., H. W. Dickinson, Esq., A.
Balaton, Ent. T. Rickman, Esq., W. Rickman, Esq.,
E. Lacy, Eng., C. Creeke, FAq.„ 0. H. Gutch,
Esq., W. J. Pike. Esq., J. S. Hudson, Esq., J.
Harker, Esq., the Rev. E. R. Conder, M.A., Dr.
Hamilton, Lc. - . . - .

The Mayor said it was the opinion of scientific
men and engineers generally that in the course
of six or seven years the entrance to the port of
Poole would be entirely closed. Since the harbour
was surveyed by Captain Sheringbain, nine or

ten years ago, there had been an accumulation of
sand to the extent of lOti feet. The remedy pro-
posed was to erect a pier running from South Haven
point through the Swashway to the two fathom line,
at a coat of £34,400. It was hardly necessary
for him to tell the meeting that it was impossible
for the people of Poole to raise £34,400 ; indeed, he
thought he might go a step further and say it was
out of their power to raise the interest of that sum
at four per cent. (Laughter.) Besides, it was a
national question. The obstruction arose upon
ground over which the people of Poole had no power
whatever, and it would be the bounden duty of the
representatives of Poole and the county members to
impress upon the Governnient the urgent necessity
which exists for the introduction of an Act of Parlia-
ment in order to appropriate to Poole, by way of
loan or otherwise, the sum of L 34,400. He need
not inform them that the harbour of Poole was equal
to any other harbour in the kingdom. It was capable
of containing a thousand ships in perfect safety; in
fact it was a natural dock, a dock which the stranger
could enter without paying any dock dues whatever
(hear, hear). It was melancholy to contemplate the
shutting up of such a harbour, but such most be the
CAW if something was not done to prevent it. To
show the importance of the harbour, during the past
year no less than 1424 vessels, with a tonnage of
97,579 tons, entered this port It was a matter
which affected the youngest child up to the oldest
man. The Mayor expressed his regret that some
more efficient person 624 not been selected to pre-
side, but he was consoled by the reflection that there
were gentlemen present who would do ample justice
to the case. (Cheers.) He had the authority of
Mr. Coode, a government engineer, to bear him out
in the assertion he had made with regard to the only
remedy to prevent that sad calamity which was
which was likely to betel them. (Cheers).
It was then proposed by the Mayor, seconded by
Thomas Phippard, Esq., Mayor of Wareham, and
carried unanimously:—

That this meeting views with alarm the present state
of the sand bar, at the entrance of the Harbour, which,
upon the best engineers' opinions, renders it probable
that at no distant day Poole will (nil as • port alto.
gether ; an evil which, whilst more directly affecting
the merchants and shipowners, would, througlithein, be
felt by the population comprising an area of twenty
miles in extent round Poole.

Proposed by Henry Danby Seymour, Earl., M.P
for Poole, seconded by Oliver William Farrer,
and carried unanimously :

That the subject is the more serious, inasmuch as ths
evil arises without the Harbour of Poole and on soil
claimed by the Crown, and that no funds exist, (suppos-
ing the Crown waved its rights,) applicable to a remedy.
That Mr. (node having advised a remedy practicable at
• cost of £34,400, and this meeting believing the case to
be within the terms of the recommendation of the Har-
bour Refuse Commissioners, in their report made in
March, 1859, a memorial be prepared and presented to
the Government, embodying the facts relating to Poole
Harbour, and claiming to be a practical illustration
of the wisdom and necessity of the course recommended
by such commissioners.

Proposed by Thouma Wanhill, Esq., seconded by
Charles William Packe, Esq. M. I'. (of Branksome
Tower), and carried unanimously :
That such memorial shall embrace, not only the in-
habitants of Poole, but that those residing in the entire
district surrounding Poole shall be invited to concur in
signing the same, and of bringing all the interest in their
immediate neighbourhood to bear upon so important a
subject.
Proposed by John Adey, Esq., seconded by David
Dwell, &DA., Sheriff of Poole, and carritxl unani•