23 



By Col. E. E. Markwick, c.b., f.r.a.s. 



As our Society is now launching its first volume of proceedings, 

 an important epoch to all its supporters, this seems a fitting time 

 and place in which to give a brief account of the previously existing 

 local scientific society. The task has been very much facilitated by 

 an inspection of the minute book of the old Society, which has been 

 courteously lent for the purpose by Mr. Bilson, a former secretary. 

 This book contains not only records of the purely " business " 

 transactions of the Society, but also brief accounts, principally in 

 the shape of newspaper cuttings, of nearly all the lectures delivered 

 and papers read before, as well as excursions made by the Society. 



The older Society appears to have been formed, or started, on 

 the 24th January, 1883, when a meeting was held in Bournemouth 

 at which " it was decided to make the attempt to establish a Society 

 for the promotion of Natural Science in the town of Bournemouth." 

 There were present " the following gentlemen only — the night being 

 wet — The Rev. Nehemiah Curnock, Messrs. Dolamore, W. Harding, 

 Ballard, Axford, and Percy Bright." 



In February a provisional Committee was formed, consisting 

 of the gentlemen just mentioned, with the addition of Rev. J. Byrne, 

 and Mr. W. McRae as Hon. Secretary. On February 21st, 1883, "An 

 inauguration was held in a suite of rooms kindly lent by Mr. Bright, 

 the Arcade, at which a great number of interesting objects were 

 exhibited, with a number of microscopes and other scientific in- 

 struments. The rooms were crowded throughout the evening. 

 Everyone present expressed themselves highly gratified with the 

 result." 



In March, 1883, the rules of the Society were decided on, the 

 officers consisting of President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Sec- 

 retary, and Librarian. A working committee was fixed. 



The first annual meeting was held on 3rd May, 1883. 

 Bright offered the use of a room for the Society, rent free, for the 

 first year. The subscription was fixed at 5s. ; the members num- 

 bered 68, " but we shall not be satisfied until we have every 

 scientific man and woman in Bournemouth on our roll." Finances 

 satisfactory, a balance of £jg 8s. 5d. being then in hand. "Messrs 

 Mate & Sons, the proprietors of the ' Bournemouth Directory,' 

 deserve the thanks of our Society for the reports of all our meetings." 



On September 19th, 1883, it was decided that the meetings of 

 the Society be held at 8 o'clock on Thursday evenings. 



