54 -Jloyal Colonial Institute. 



XIX.— CITY LUNCHEONS. 



In connection witli the work of the Empire Trade and Industry Committee, the 

 mid-day luncheons in the City, when leading authorities from Overseas contribute 

 interesting addresses on trade and other subjects, continue to prove most successful. 

 They have been largely attended, and the subjects dealt with have proved of con- 

 siderable interest. The following is a list of guests and the subjects dealt with in 

 1914—15 :— 



" The Duty of Britishers at Home and Abroad." By the Right Hon. Sir George 

 Eeid, G.C.M.G. (High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia). 

 " South Africa." By Sir J. Percy Fitzpatrick, K.C.M.G. 

 " South Australia." By F. W. Young (Agent-General for South Australia). 



XX.— ANNUAL DINNER AND CONVERSAZIONE. 



The annual dinner is held, as a rule, on May 24 (Empire Day), and is presided over 

 by either the President or one of the Vice-Presidents of the Institute, The Chairmen 

 of the last few years include H.R.H. the Prince of Wales (afterwards H.M. King 

 Edward VII.), H.R.H. the Prince of Wales (now H.M. King George V.) ; Field-Marshal 

 H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, H.R.H. Prince 

 Arthur of Connaught, K.G., the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, the Earl of Rosebery, 

 the Duke of Argyll, Lord Northcote, the Earl of Onslow, the Right Hon. Alfred Lyttle- 

 ton, the Earl of Crewe, Lord Avebury, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Dunraven, 

 the Earl of Jersey, Earl Grey, Lord Strathcona, and the Earl of Elgin. At these 

 gatherings distinguished men of afEairs gather together from all parts of the Empire, 

 and the speeches delivered are valuable additions to the archives of the Institute. 

 Dinners are also held simultaneously in various parts of the world and greetings 

 exchanged. The latter gatherings are organised by the Honorary Corresponding 

 Secretaries. 



The annual Conversazione mostly takes place in the month of June, and for the past 

 few years has been held in the Natural History Museum, which has been lent by the 

 Trustees of the British Museum. The guests usually number between two and three 

 thousand. In the present year, owing to the war, the Council has decided to hold 

 neither of these functions. 



XXI.— HOUSE AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE. 



This Committee has been recently constituted (at first under the name of the Social 

 Committee) to deal with matters of internal economy on the liues of a Club House 

 Committee, and to facilitate social intercourse among the Fellows. Some of its 

 members attend every Thursday in the smoking-room from 4.30 to 6.30 p.m., wearing 

 ■•■he Institute's badge with a red ribbon, to welcome visitors from Overseas, and to 

 introduce them, when desired, to Fellows of the Institute, and others who may be 

 present. 



On the first Thursday of each month tea is served from 4.30 to 6,30 p.m., and all 

 guests are made welcome, whether they be Fellows or not. On certain occasions 

 advantage ia taken of these gatherings to hold an informal discussion on matters 

 of general^interest. 



