The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-21 00:00:00

CRITECTURAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY.

the usual fortnightly meeting of this society was held in
the Royal Institution last night. Mr. John Hay occupied
the chair.
Mr. Parker exhibited some very beautiful specimens of
mahogany, which elicited a short but interesting conver-
sation,
Specimens of inlaid panelling were also exhibited from
Messrs. Rausburg's, of Church-street.
The Chairman delivered an address of considerable length
and ranch eloquence, upon the question of the advantage of
offering prizes to induce competition for great pub-
,,,le elaecimens of architecture. The speaker strongly de-
It"(l,anced the competition and committee of selection
iciple, and endeavour to show by instances drawn from
°ll(lant Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and other rlaces, that
where the practice was adopted, it was almost- invariably
found a failure, and that all the greatest public buildings
itlle' aPrting from the efforts of one great mind. The chair-
To': applied his observation to the recent decision of the
Lib n entloil, to have designs for the proposed Public
ei eery sent ins to the library committee as a committee. of
is.ection, the uccessful competitor to carry off the pr ze.
The chairman suggested that if it were con -
'laered necessary to throw onen the matter to
competition at all, it be done by having the
..e79etitors themselves the parties to select the designs
wim.ele they should consider worthy of the prizes. He ex-
P:inned the details of this plan, adding his opinion that the
competition should be left open to the general profession,
4 (I not confined to Liverpool alone. He argued that the
architects themselves, who understood the difficulties in the
Iv_ii ay of a successful design, were the best judges cf which
in the
have the prize, and alluded to an instance recorded
! the life of Vitruvius where a similar plan had been fol-
lowed with success. '
Mr. Barry Contended that the system of competition was
very
discreditable, and q ired a radical and thorough
reform.
forth Re did not denyz uthat the principle had called
much that was
express great throughout the country, and
~ ed an opinion that such aplan of competition as that
ePt.°P°4(l by the eh •
eroner 4' .• airman would place the system upon a
lessi
e .00ung, and induce the highest members of the pro-
en to not very fai compete. He thought Liverpool architects were
14 that town, treated in regard to the great public buildings
bebit r,l.' ,linward said the mode proposed by the chairman was
effect wb'Y mentioned by Vitrnvius, but had been carried into
,;_t with success both in France and England.
len,r. Sumner expressed some doubt whether the public
ir"Mei be satisfied with the decision of the architects. He
oggested that (heed. a number of painters should also be intro-
in I
pee— a IY) Mr Barry proposed a resolution calling upon the
:use to convey his suggestions to the library and
.. seem committee, and respectfully requesting of that body
'tßive them their mature consideration.
th". Verelat urged that the public should have a voice in
eeiZatter, and suggested designs,e architects should select a
cou in number out of the and that the voice of the
wortitheiylsohfould se.'ect from these tose which they considered
the prizes.
i*.l.l;' Reward seconded the resolution.
proposeda , Boult pointed out several practical objections to the
select Plan, and moved that it should be referred to a
,„,„
.committee to consider the subject, and report upon it
es teen. next meeting,
Mr, 8. . g.
AL, es, nggins seconded the proposition. .
th • ricton replied to the arguments urged in favour of
i_ eachai se
rman's plan, chewing that the present instructions
ailli kl by the library committee left the matter quite open to
also
arrangernent as to selection they should decide on. lie
plan tirged several practical objections to the chairman's.
the arit.e was strongly in favour of having the designs, in
mitt instance, exhibited to the public ; then, let a com-
b_lee:f skilled and disinterested persons report a certain
.I,IIP to the library committee, and the final decision rest
•tea the •
council.
therevote was then taken on Mr. Boult's amendment, when
meat
appeared eight for it, and two against. The amend-
was t was, therefore, declared carried, and the committee
tac9ordingly appointed.
et, During the night a communication was read from the
_esYold Institute of British Architects, London, enclosing a
es,
..lution upon the subject of diplomas for architects,
440t:Ing that the council felt it, as yet, premature to pro-
thelae an opinion upon a subject of such great importance
re. establishment of an [examination with reference to
eating a diploma in architecture.

THE WIRRAL FARMERS' CLUB.
1 y
alidedat"a! there was a great gathering of the members
e i , ePendants of this club, at Sutton, for the purpose of
ieur,..,_g
the dap1 its usual anniversary. In the programme of
the first business to be disposed of was
This 4 THE PLOUGHING MATCH.
Mad
tOok
, place in two large fields, occupied by Mr.
co 14°eKs, and, within the hundred, a more suitable spot
Plow!' d not have been found, both as regards testing the
rs and skill of the competitors, and affordingac-
Z:l2 a:idation to the public in witnessing the anxiety.
.aeed by each man engaged in testing the capabilities
.L 443 (tor the tirvronponent At an early hour in the
;7trilh inthg, , the Competit or; entered the fields,
whet. eir beautiful teams of horses and ploughs,
*tlable.eaell not
(from what transpired hereafter we are
a eert" to give the exact number), was allotted to plough
the
club. 4hl BPace for the purpose of being awarded _ - elan
arPrize• The men went to their task in a most work
Rel"; 'ke style, and the anxiety manifested, both by their
aarrrern,
" and the persons assembled, to see which should
e,,,,531, off the prizes was most exciting. The work being
p,47o:ded, the greatest difficulty was in store for the
perfo„' who, on this occasion had'A most onerous duty to
say ", fo where all was so, well done, it was difficult to
thewhichi
~ as the best. In such a predicament were the
the .(iug.ea. of ploughing placed, but, we believe,
&ern ttecisions met general approbation, although
Pergenue one-sidedness and partiality shown by th
Jones who officiates as secretary to the club. (a Mr.
the B,' " igeStOr), we are unable to give the credit due to
who , neessful competitor, or the name of the gentleman
an hil;ard such a skilful and deserving servant employed
4 utteriann , To our general readers this may not appear
t
of ,kill, 01 moment, but to those engaged in the contest
roust isi, and those by whom they are employed, i otherr a source of regret, for, in this case, as in many
Placed'. it is only right thatright man should be ple.ye, .in his right place '' in whatever sphere he may
emline:We,: the ploughing match there was an exhibition of
b-tili rtnZ P°llltrY. Some very fine specimens of horses,
,`Bl ii,,:,f,nt and pigs, were shown, as also some
tZ7 fine he'ads t',!. Poultry, but here again we are at fault
day. who who succee,N in carrying off the prizes. of the
J• ror this our numer‘;!
l'et bla is readers in the district must
he,„ .111,a ourselves or our reo;.‘rter, but the person to
It w; the
entrust the management of their annual gala.
18 announced that the members would hold their
it the .. ANNUAL DINNER
Eitini 4‘ed Lion Inn, at Sutton, at which Sir Charles
"°Min
r eY was to preside. As the usual facilities for
ter g the proceedings were not afforded to our repot.-
ti.. !t8 were conceded to two of our cotemporaries, we are
',table to give a report of the speeches. ,

• -
-Re, ARMY ESTIMATES FOR 1855-56,

4.-
, The army estimates for the year ending the 3lst March, 4857, were issued yesterday.
The grand total amount that will be required for the
financial year ensuing is stated to be £34,998,504, against
crthe sum of £28,670,497 in 1855-56, thus exhibiting an in-
ease of £6,328,007. The sum of £32,758.280 is required
dlser
r vice he effective, and £2,240,224 for the non-effective
land The items are thus distributed : viz., £10,950,398 for the
forces (246,716 in number); £3,150,129 for the
rabodied militia; £BB,OOO fur volunteer corps; £408,595
for
te the army works corps; £169,026 for the war depart-
m-
' £22,791 for " head quarters, military departments" ;
£514,141 for civil establishments; £915,301 for artificers,
wages; £9,886,261 for clothing, barrack furniture, Ste.,
provisions, forage, fuel, and light; £4,371,165 for land and
sea stores ; £2,044,069 for works and buildings ; £238,404
for the educational and scientific branches ; 4'25,400 for
rewart,L4 for military services-, £67,000 for the army pay of
pueral officers ; £519,094 for the pay of reduced or retired
officers ; £220,420 for widows' pensions; £83,558 for pen-
sions, &e., to wounded officers; £32,096 for " in-pensions" ;
£1,168,392 for " out-pensions"; and £124,264 for supsran-
nuation allowances.
Of the sum voted I'st year, £13178,678 was under the
tear]. of " army, " £9,990,165 under " ordnance," and
£4,961,654 under that of " commissariat."