PROGRESS OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2453, 31 March 1888, Page 2

PROGRESS OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

Tun financial prospects of the Institute have made very satisfactory progress siuee the proposal for its establishment was brought to the notice of the public by the meetings held at St. James's Palace and the Mansion House in January last. The funds received and definitely promised at this date, for the foundation and maintenance of the Institute, amount to over £'100,000. This sum is represented by the following contributions, stated approximately : Krom different parts of the United Kingdom, £220,000 ; from the Colonics, fSO.oOO ; and from the Indian Empire, £100,0(10. Mere than two-thirds of the full value of the subscriptions notified have been received and invested. Returns have as yet been received from some of the colonies only. In reference to the contributions which are being: received from this source, it is especially interesting to note that many of the smallest of Her Majesty's Possessions (e.g., the Island of Ascension and the Bechuanaland and Fingoe, Territories) have, by the amount of their offerings and by the manner in which these are subscribed, furnished valuable testimony of the active interest taken by the inhabitants of those distant countries in the establishment of an institution designed to brine all parts of her empire into intimate touch with each other. From the larger colonies information is received from time to time that practical proof is being furnished of the sympathy of the inhabitants with the welfare of this undertaking. As illustrating this, it may be stated that a contribution of £2,5.">3 4s Id has been received from New Zealand, which is composed of subscriptions made by inhabitants of the colony, and is entirely distinct from the grant proposed to be made by the New Zealand Government. In the Indian Empire contributions from native princes and through local committees there formed continue to be received, and the anticipations respecting the prominent part which India would take in the establishment of the Institute are being fully realised. In the United Kingdom many of the committees which were formed last spring in various counties, cities, boroughs, burghs, and townships are still continuing, and with success, to apply their organisation to the increase of the funds of the Institute. His Royn.l Highness, the President of the Institute, has considered it desirable to enlarge tiio Organising Committee from time to time by the additional appointment of several eminent men who have evinced readiness to afford active support to the undertaking, and to give their gratuitous services in aid of developing the scheme of government and the sphere of action of the Institute. The constitution of the representitive goi civ i ig body w h'ch H s Royal Highness the Prince of Wales desires to see at the head of the Institute lias already received careful consideration on the part of the Organising Committee, A preliminary outline of the probable mode of its construction was published some time since, with the. object of invitiug suggestions from public or official sources. Several have already been received. They will be carefully considered, when, at the termination of the recess, the committee devote their attention to the completion of this part of their task. Preliminary s'.eps are being takeu in view of obtaining, at an early date, a royal charter of incorporation for the Institute. His Royal Highness has appointed Lord Herschell, the Earl of Kosebery, and Sii John Rose, Bart., Trustees to the Imperial Institute, and arrangements are being made to invest in the names of these trustees, and in a suitable manner, a proportion of the funds subscribed, to form the nucleus of an " Endowment l<'uud," to which it is confidently expected that important additions will lie received from private sources. The Royal Commission of the Great Exhibition of ISol having made to the Imperial Institute a grant of land at South Kensington, consisting of about six acres, with the possibility of additions thereto should the work of the Institute demand increased accommodation, the foundation-stone of the building designed by T. Collcutt, Esq., F.R.I. 8.A., was laid by Her Majesty the Queen on the 4th of July last. Her Majesty's subsequent donation of £1,000 to the funds of tins Institute affords an additional and most gratifying testimo'iy of the interest taken by the Queen in the success of an undertaking designed, by His Royal Highness the Founder of the Institute, to accomplish the great work, initiated by the illustrious Prince Consort, of cementing the bonds of intimate relationship and co-operation between every class of Her Majesty's subjects through their devotion to the establishment and maintenance of unity of opertion between all branches of manufactures, commerce, and education, and between all cultivators of science and the arts. The brilliant success of the ceremonial which, oil the 4th July, was witnessed by a concourse of over 10,000, afforded an interesting record of public sympathy with the foundation of this national memorial of Her Majesty's Jubilee. The first step towards the erection cf the main buildings of the Institute Jiavc been taken ; a contract has bccu entered into for the construction of its foundations, and the work will be commerce nl forthwith. The details of construction of the New Road, which will connect Queen's Gate and Exhibition Road along the frontage of the Imperial Institute, are in course of settlement. As somo considerable time must ellipse before the Institute buildings cau be occupied, it is under consideration to commence as soon as practicable, and to gradually develop, certain important branches of the work of the Institute which may bj conducted in temporiry ollices, such as the organisation of an intelligence department in connection with the colonies and India, bearing spo ;ial referenoe to commerce and emigration. F. A. lbli, i,, Organising Secretary. 1, Adam.street, Adelphi, J-»udon, W.C.. October, ISS7, *