34 THE KSSEX FIELD Cr.Ul:. 



Ml'. Shenstone thoroughly backed up the idea of an efficient central organisation. 



Mr. W. G. Shadrake, a member of the Leyton School Board, said he had no 

 doubt that many of the local bodies who had sent in applications to the County 

 Council for a share of the money had done so simply with the view of being in it 

 when the plunder was divided. (Laughter). He regarded the small sums 

 they were likely to get as a white elephant, as they would be too small to be of 

 any practical use for technical education. He believed many of them would be 

 willing to withdraw their applications, and to petition the County Council in 

 f.ivour of the scheme of the Field Club. He should be very glad to bring forward 

 a motion of that kind at the Board of which he was a member. 



Several other members took part in the discussion, and the unanimous opinion 

 appeared to be that the scheme was one well worthy of support, but no vote was 

 taken on the subject, 



This brought to a close one of the most interesting and fully-attended Annual 

 Meetings ever held by the Club (members came from all parts of the county, as well 

 as from London, to attend), and genuine enthusiasm was shown in the two schemes 

 which came under discussion. The arrangements for the meeting in the Museum, 

 the tea, etc., were very kindly undertaken by Mr. Durrant, to whom the best thanks 

 of the Club are due. 

 Deputation to the County Council, Monday, February 2nd, 1891. 



By invitation, a deputation from the Club, consisting of Sir Henry Roscoe, M.P., 

 F.R.S. (one of the authors of the Technical Instruction Act, 1889), Prof. W. H., 

 Flower, C.B., F.R.S. (Director of the British Museum), Prof. Meldola, F.R.S. 

 (City Guilds Technical College), Prof. Boulger, F.G.S., xMr. F. W. Rudler, F.G.S. 

 (Director of the Museum of Practical Geology), and Mr, W. Cole, Hon. Sec , 

 waited upon the Parliamentary Committee of the E^sex County Council, at 35. 

 New Broad Street (Mr. E. N. Buxton, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, 

 presiding), to advocate the central scheme of Technical Education in Essex, put 

 forward by the Council of the Essex Field Club. Lord Rayleigh, Secretary to 

 the Royal Society, was unavoidably prevented from being present. The speakers 

 strongly urged the claims of the Essex Field Club to bear some part in any work 

 for the promotion of scientific and technical instruction in the count)', and bore 

 testimony to the high position the Club had attained by reason of its excellent 

 publications, and steady adhesion to one plan of work. The}- explained the broad 

 features of the Club's scheme (fully set out in the last volume of the ESSEX 

 NatUR.ALIST, vol. iv. pp. 259-62), and insisted on the great importance of 

 establishing a central institution, in addition to making an}' grants for local pur- 

 poses. The scheme would provide such a central body, and would send competent 

 teachers and lecturirs, furnished with apparatus for practical class-teaching, into 

 the rural districts, thus bringing high-class instruction to the very doors of the' 

 country and agricultural folk, and affording them advantages from the grant 

 almost equal to those possessed by the urban populations. 



After answering some questions, and being assured by the Chairman that their 

 \iews would receive due consideration, the members of the deputation withdrew. 



Ordinary Meeting, Saturday, February 28th, 1891. 

 Thk I22nd Onlinary Meeting was held in the Town Hall, Leyton, at 6.30, 

 Mr. E. A Fitch, President, in the chair. 



The following were elected members of the Club: Messrs. Gerald Christy, 

 W, W. Duffield, A. C Freeman, J. 1). L. Lamarque, Xorm.in l.ott, H. B. Rowan, 

 Augustus A. Tiniliiirll, C'.t'., and Mrs. M . V.. Marsh, 



