The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-10-17 00:00:00

produced.

The aannal meeting took place on Friday evening,
in the Lecture-hall.

Mr. H. E. HoyNen!. (the Mayor) having been
requested to take the chair, in doing so, said that it
had always been the custom at the institute to
request one of the older members to take the chair.
Their treasurer, Mr: Whetham, had frequent!),
officiated on such occasions, and he regretted that he
W ait Aftt..able to. be present on that occasion; boy,-
ever, being present, and as Mayor, he had great
pleasure in taking the chair, and would ask the
secretary to read the report, which he did as:follows :

"In presenting their tenth annual report, your com-
mittee feel that they have reason to congratulate the
members on the further development which has been
effected in the objects for whose furtherance the
I institute was established, and on the wider appreciation
of the advantages which it offers, evinced by the
, community at large. As in evidence that their feeling
If satisfaction with the results whioh have been
attained, and of confidence in a stable and prosperous
course in the future, is not without foundation, they
would call your attention to the following facts. The
number of names now on the hooks is, of full members
183. of ladies (who are entitled to the use of the library,
and to free admission to lecture's, &c.,) 74 ; total, 256.
Two years since the total of both classes was 193
showing an increase of over thirty per cent, during this
period. It is trusted that as the advantages offered to
members have been at no previon; time so great and so
varied, the next report will preseat under this head
remits equally encouraging. The attendance in the
reading-room, and at the lectures, during the past year
has been fully equal to that in any former year whilst
the number of books issued from the circulating library
shows a remarkable increase. The total of issues
which in 1863-4 waa2 626, in 1864-5 has reaobed 3,431. ,
Your committee would mention here with gratitude
the gift of twelve volumes of the Mechanics' Magazine
by Mr. J, T. Stephees. The museum has been
materially enriched by the addition of gouts interesting
relics of the voyages of Copt Cook, and a box of Roman
coins found in Bridport, the gifts of Mr. S. Bowden
laundry, as Well as 6 valuable collection of fossils and
minerals; presented by Mr. A. Breadley. For the
careful and scientific arrangement ef these last your
committee are Indebted to Mr. Jefford. Towardi the
completion of the decorations of the reading-room, the
Mayor of Bridpo t has offered a baste( Tennyson. and
Mr. 'John Dunham a bust of George Stephenson. These
offers have been, with gratitude. eccepted by the com-
mittee and the order for the same placed with Bruticiani.
In April last an application was received from the
committee of the Slchool of Art requesting the use of
the lecture-room for their classes. Considering that
the work proposed to he accomplished by the new
society was one thoroughly in harmony with the
objects of the institute, your committee with much
pleasure seceded to this request; stipulating, however,
that the we. of the room by the Szliool of Art should in
no way interfere with their own arrangements. Classes
are now held on.tbree days in the week, Mondays,
Wedtillsdlyt, and Thttredayei To the niPabertibe class,
which opens at eight o'clock in the evening, member,* of
the institute are admitted at & reduced price. It is
hoped and believed that a largo number will gladly
avail themselves of this opportunity of instructing and
developing the idea of beauty, which is innate in the
human mind, and of thus Fr coming more skilful in the
performance of their daily labour, and of opening up for
themselves wider sources of ratification in an intelligent
appreciation of the treasures of art. The programme
of lectures and entertainaients for the coming season
hoe recently been issued. Your committee have
eircleavoured to gratify the tastes of all, and they
venture to hope that the course will be a successful one.
Your commiVee beg to recommend the discontinuance
of the Hlierbqrne Journal, Western aahe e, and Public
On:siort, These papers ate found tel be little read, and
their places are well filled by others, now on the table.
The members of the earamittett. who satire are Messrs.
A. Stephens, H. E. Hounsell, J. Bartlett, and T.
Wainwright. It is intended to propose allot these gentle-
men for re-election. The treasurer's account shows •
small balance of cash in hand. There is also a smal ,
balance on account of the repairing fund; but these are
more than counterbalanced by an amount still due to
the contracter which yetr oOmmittee have been unable
at prtiseht to beide satilfastorilyi"

The MAYOR moved its adoption, and remarked
that it was now 21 years since he was first connected
with the institute at Bridport. Having always felt
very warmly interested in it, he could not fail to be
much gratified by the highly satisfactory report
which had lumen read, and by the increased apprecia.
tion of the advantages bestowed by the institute
shown by the public at large. The support awarded
to the institute in these days was by the town in
general, ts herees 20 years ago, it was kept in
existence only by the continued efforts of a few
individuals Another subject for congratulations
*as the clhhirristabile of the building now being the
property of the institute. His Worship tkers, point-
ing to the models round the room belonging to the
School of Art, claimed the establishment of this,
school as another and great benefit eonforrod on the
town by the institute. He regretted that-he could ,
not himself.- take advantage of the excellent tuition
there giyed, and exboreed the young men who could '
afford the time, to avail themselves of such a valuable
opportunity of art education.
Mr. JEFFORD, in seconding the adoption of the
repert, expressed pleasure al therprogress made,
the-institute bit Was 'not willing even yet to qJj
it quite satisfactory, since, in Minh a population as
that of Bridport, there ought to be three timeal
number ofsnembers there were at present on ,
Woke..
Before the motion was put to the meeting_ Mae,
ST'EtiIIENB drew attention to a slight inaocuracy,
in the report ita it then stood With reference to the
School of Art, as it was there stated that ft hiss
open two evenings in the week, whereas the number
was three. This haying been corrected, the report
was adopted.
The Mayon wished attention to Ifehiftleted to
fact that members or this institute are s4jt----trglAri
the School of Art on the payment of llip*nulgit,
instead-Of 10s, the usual subscription.
setiza:, tken wiposed by Rev. J.
by. Me. Nantwerclir, that 3, _
Esq., be re-appointed the president, and 5.
Whethanitt ESq., the treasurer, for the ensuing year,
end cannel.,
J. - -LiLt*Pittrth then proposed,
Mr: KLBERT 'MANLEY Sin:Conde& that Mr. Reynolds
and Mr. Matterfaoa be re-elootod secretaries and
Unit Air. G., Samson, jun., and Mr. John Collins bit
appointed auffitors.--Oarried.
The term of office of four members of the com-
,
mittee—Mossrs. T, Btephens, -11, E. Hounsell, J.
Bartlett, and 'Wairivinght—having expired, their
rewlastion vu proposed by Mr. CoLrox. In
making the proposition, he remarked that he haft
very greet pleasure in doing so ; there was an old
saying, "good wine needeth to bush ;" they had
tried the wine and found it very good.
Mr. H. N. Cox seconded the ntahion and it was
carried.
Mr. Batmen moved, and Mr. NEWBERRY
seconded, that the Western Gazette, Sherborne
Journal, and Public Opinion be diacontinued,
they were little read by the members. Carried
The Rev. J. L CARPIENTER wished to make a few
suggestions for the consideration of the committee.
The first was thsk a recently established Bridport
paper (the Tefegrarclonight be agreeable to many of
the members to have 'lt placed an the table. Ho
then stated that in a similar institute in lislifits
wit/Pt/Alit-4r b had been connected, the nowspaiim,
of 'different ',religious denominations were take5.
each as the iiite the
rd.r ANIONIGNA, the inquireit"lllif
Patriokind Wonconformist ; and be saw no-ermeon,
if the fifilde*buld admit, why the mine should not
be ne ?Ike in ,fltielll-idport. Institute be would,
via' alter" tri'' WC' Ittlietire there particularly the
Quqrsiewirrand Edinburgh, to be afterwards placedin
thelibrary.
Mr. WAINWRIGHT said that he had listened to '
Mr. Carpenter's suggestions with a good deal of '
Pleigare, as those of a gentleman evincing kiterest in
the inatitute, but with respect to the introduction
of so-called refigions papers be differed entirely from
hint He had been informed that ihe eld institute had
antlered seriously from political and religions feelings
being excited, and it appeared to him that the step
Mr, Carpenter proptionAyould be calculated to re-
produce the same feelings, and therefore to interfere
with the unanimity and success which at present
prevailed.
Mr. JETYORD expressed his hearty concurrence in
the remarks made by Mr. Wainwright with respect
to the introduction of religious papers. He-whelk
disposed to recommend the introduction of retitithil

number I

of their expense, and of their being
members.

,d. With respect to
ble, be olsserveti bits
_actiog in oppoilt.ioo

papers
that it WOlll,
' tbe institate's lawn _
wirsr 400#414A9Atiegt

thel

aucti

sommitt:e had
!eyerythiag.lhat

V
, -
•

I could expite the Jeio,na Or religious parties, as an
I tIY am ple of this to r,.; :ster of any denomination was
1
eligible t:, serve r.n ta, ,punmittee.
IiOLLs expressed A wish that the Economist. a
good weekly commer.!ial paper, should be taken in.
Tor Rev. J. L. Cm.r!tx reit stated his purpose had
bee, answered by :,is having elicited the feeling of
the !netting on C A I jacts he had mooted, he was
quite content witli .s..r. Wainwright to "let well
al,. ,o," and had ho 1,.c.r aware that the rules did not
I allow ministers to be on the committee, he should
' c.t have suggested the int oduction of religious
papers.
Mr. JEFFORE, referring to a passage in the report
respecting the fosiils in the Museum, observed that
although the geology of the district was generally
well illustrated, still there was one formation, the
Las, which was incomplete, sod that any member of
the institute would deserve its thanks who could
procure fossils of that formation.
Mr. G. SAMIHN, jun., proposed, and Mr. J. T.
STEPHENS seconded, that Pus be taken in weekly,
which was carried with acclamation.

The sale of papers was then proceeded with, the
Mayor officiating an auctioneer, wielding a candle-
stick for a hammer in a moat efficient way, and by his
humour .nd eloquence be obtained most liberal prices
for the papers he
.b ad to dispose of. .
Mr. J. BawriArrt then proposed and Mr. DUNHAM
seconded, a vote of thanks to the Mayor which was
duly acknowledged and the meeting separated.
The repairing fund account amounted to
£237 16s. 2d., and after paying £2OO to Mr. Gerrerd,
the contractor, and other disbursements, a small
balance had been carried to the general account.
The general account, including that balance,
amounted to £l9l 19s. 9d., and amongst the re-
ceipts £ll5 3s. had been reoeived for subscriptions,
£27 18. 21 for sale of lecture tickets and admission
to lectures, and £2O for rent of Telegraph Office for
two years. Amongst the disbursements £4l 6s. 2d.
had been paid for newspapers and periodicals,
£5O 14s. 10d. for lectures and entertainments, end
£24 16e. fir gas. The balance at the banker's was
a 17& lid.