A Retrospect and a Prospect. 5 



building rising in College Square for technical instruction in 

 Belfast can realise the change that has come over the spirit of the 

 people. For many years a few townsmen — perhaps ten or 

 twelve — who were in earnest on the subject, held their little 

 meetings and gathered in small subscriptions, often with difficulty ; 

 they held an annual meeting in the Ulster Minor Hall or other 

 such place, in general thinly attended, and often the little effort 

 was in danger of not surviving for another year. But that small 

 band of men, though disheartened, held on tenaciously. There 

 was the late Sir James Musgrave, Professor Fitzgerald, Mr. R. H. 

 Reade, Mr. John Malone, Mr. H. J. Nicholson, Mr. Loewenthal, 

 Sir James Henderson, Dr. Kyle Knox. There were others 

 equally faithful, whose names do not occur to me at this moment ; 

 and my reason for writing this letter at all is to bring forward the 

 fact of how much those who will benefit by the new great School 

 owe to those gentlemen for their foresight and self-denying 

 perseverance. — Believe me, yours very truly, 



(signed) WM. Q. EWART. 



Another letter was from the Secretary of the Sheet Metal 

 Workers' and Gas Fitters' Union. This letter, after giving infor- 

 mation bearing upon the needs of their members in regard to 

 technical education, continued : — " I might also add that the 

 members of above Union have agreed to voluntarily subscribe 

 towards providing a prize for the most successful apprentice." 



Referring next to the accommodation provided by the Library 

 and Technical Instruction Committee, a number of lantern views 

 were shown illustrating the extensions and developments which 

 have been planned in connection with the new building in order 

 to keep pace with the growth of the number of students attending 

 the Institute. Particulars were given of the building as first 

 planned by the architect, Mr. Stevenson, in 1900, and these were 

 supplemented with various details in regard to area, &c. It was 

 then shown how in 1901 these plans were found inadequate, and 

 a first extension took place. Another extension was made later, 

 and it was decided to build across the central well and to 



