The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-29 00:00:00

RAILWAY BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

The fourteenth half-yearly meeting was held yes-
terday, at the King's-cross Station, Mr. H. Oakley
in the chair.

Mr. Mille, the Secretary, read the report, which
stated that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
had consented to become one of the patrons of the
institution, and had contributed 50 guineas to
its funds. At the anniversary dinner in May last
the collections amounted to £1,423, exceeding those
of the previous year by nearly £2OO. The collections
on New Year's-day realised £495. The investment
fund now amounted to £lO,OOO. The five applicants
to be admitted to the benefits of the institution could
be provided for out of the current funds. The board
of management had had under consideration for
some time past the necessity of enlarging the scope
of the institution, so as to include those railway,
canal, and carrying agents' servants hitherto ineli-
gible for members, and it was proposed that each
member of the servants' department should subscribe
2d. per week or Bs. per annum, the subscription
being fixed at as low a rate as possible to bring it
within the means of all classes. It was proposed also
to engraft, both upon the officers and servants' de-
partment, a system of insurance through the medium.
of the Provident Clerks' Society, so arranged that by
a small weekly or monthly payment a certain sun/
would be assured to the family of a deceased mem-
ber; and the board intend to add a bonus of 10 per
cent. to the amount insured. In addition, assistance
would be given to members' widows and orphans all
far as the funds would admit.

The CHAIRMAN congratulated the members that
the Prince of Wales had kindly contributed 50
guineas to the funds. The state of the Casualty Fund
was satisfactory, and it would be the means of doing
a great amount of good without coming on the fund
of the institution. The institution was most prosper-
ous, and there was nothing in the future to indicate
any falling off of interest in and support of the society.
Mr. DixoN seconded the adoption of the report,
which was unanimously carried.
On the motion of Mr. HOUGHTON the widows of
four members and a child were admitted to the be-
nefits of the institution.

The officers for the current year were re-elected,
and the proceedings terminated with a Tote of thanks
to the chairman.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—HANDEL FESTIVAL, Second
Day, Wednesday, June 28.—Total visitors, 14,915.
A few days ago the eminent composer, M.
Wagner, was brought before the tribunal of Augsburg, ac-
cused of having insulted the manager of the Augsburg
railway station, who forbade the introduction of a package
containing a travelling cloak and a cushion into the car-
riage. The insult consisted in the use of the epithet " im-
becile." The tribunal condemned the composer for this
word, less harmonious than " the music of the future," to
pay a fine of 25 florins.
THE HOP PLANTATIONS—ROCHESTER, June 28.
The continued dry weather is beginning to tell on
the growth of the hops, which are now looking consider-
ably less promising than some week or two since. Not-
withstanding the late cold easterly winds, which severely'
checked the growth of the bine, the plants are beginning
to push forward their midsummer shoots, and in some of
the more sheltered of the grounds they aro coming along
very rapidly. Ply is spoken of as being on the increase,
but in several of the grounds the plants are almost free
from that pest, and here the bine is looking very promis-
ing. Some warm showers are, however, much required to
clear the bine, and to enable the young lateral shoots,
which produce the hops, to take a strong start. Present
appearances are in favour of a large crop, but much will
depend on the weather till about the middle of July—that
being the most critical period. The report from the Sussex
plantations describe the hops as coining forward exceed-
ingly promising, although the long-continued dry weather
prevents a rapid growth of the bine. There is compara-
tively little vermin, and the prospects of a good crop are
very encouraging. The favourable reports from all the
districts have had the effect of causing the trade to be very
quiet, with prices, U anything, rather lower.

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