NELSON INSTITUTE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 33, 8 February 1881, Page 2

NELSON INSTITUTE.

j' ~— ■* The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Nelson Institute took place yesterday at 8 p.m., Dr Irvine (the President) in the chair. The proceedings commenced by the Hon. Secretary reading the report (which will be found on the fourth page), and balancesheet after which the President, having first asked if any subscriber had any remarks to make, moved their adoption in an abltspeech, in which he referred to the probable discontinuance of the Government grant (amounting last year to nearly £90) which would have a serious effect on the finances for the current year. Dr Irvine asked that members would try and induce others to join, and pointed out that if each subscriber could succeed in getting one other to join, the loss of the grant would not be felt, as after payment of the ordinary expenses each subscription was a clear gain. Mr 0. Curtis seconded the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, detailing at sotm length the difficulties the Committee had had to contend against in former years, which was caused to a great extent by the want of i interest taken by the subscribers. Thie, state of things being now altered, as was cvi denced by the large meeting present, Mr Curtis hoped that brighter days were in store for the Institute in spite of the withdrawal of the Government grant. Mr Curtis then referred to the extraordinary circular, about which so much had been justly said, and before proceeding with the business called upon the three new members elected last year (Messrs Graham,' Grant, and Clarkson) to deny the allegations contained therein. , Mr D. Grant then said that he was much \ annoyed at his name being appended to the document, and avorred that' no differences, such as those mentioned therein, had occurred between the members of the Committee. ! Mr J. Graham followed in the same strain and said that to put it very mildly he could only characterise the statements in the cir- ; cular as " not according to facts." Mr Clarkson said that although he approved of some of the remarks in the circular he was not the author of it; to say that there; bad been serious differences between members of the Committee was a mistake. Mr Curtis said he was very glad to receive these denials from the three gentlemen referred to, and concluded by hoping that the new Committee would sink all differences, and work together for the good of the Institute. After Mr Curtis sat down, a most amusing scene occurred, each person whose name was appended to the circular, with the exception of one (Mr Schofield), either himself or by proxy repudiating the unfortunate document, the variations of " Please, Sir, it wasn't me," causing great laughter. Mr Clarkson, replying to questions, reiterated that he was not the author of the document nor responsible for its contents, although he admitted having addressed the envelopes containing it to different persons. The Rev Mr Bavin proposed, and Mr R. Burn seconded, a vote of thanks to the retiring Committee, which was carried amid applause. The Rev Mr Bavin and the Rev Mr Calder having been appointed scrutineers a ballot was taken for members of Committee with the following result (the total number of voting papers being 87) :— Dr Irvine ; ... 86 O.Curtis 82 D. 'Burns- ... 7G Jno. Graham ; 69 A. Greenfield ... 66 D. Grant ,„ ... ... 60 W. C. Hodgson 65 DrMonckton' ... ... ... B 3 J. T Catley 53 G Hodgson 51 C. E. Bunny ... ... ... 50 J. R.Dodson 47 The above were declared elected. The other candidates polled as follows:— R. W. Pownall, 46 ; J. Percy* 44 ; Chepmell, 41; J. Hounsell, 40; Mabin, 34; Clarkson, 30 ; Stevenßon, 27 ; Robertson, 21 j Schofield. 13. Votes of thanks to., the Chairman and to the scrutineers terminated the proceedings.