880 
THE GARDENING WORLD. January 28, 1897. 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
The fifty-eighth annual general meeting of this 
institution was held on the 14th inst. at “ Simpson’s,” 
101, Strand, London. The proceedings commenced 
at 3 p.m., when the chair was taken by Mr. Harry 
J. Veitch, who called upon the secretary, Mr. George 
J. Ingram, to read the minutes of the previous meet¬ 
ing, which were passed. The chairman then called 
upon him to read the minutes of the general annual 
meeting of last year, after which the report of the 
committee and the accounts of the institution for the 
present year were read as follows :— 
Report of the Committee, 1896. 
The committee have the greatest possible satis¬ 
faction in submitting their annual report for the 
year 1896, and, in doing so, they would express 
their sincere thankfulness that they are able to again 
congratulate the subscribers and friends of the 
Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution on its 
continued prosperity and ever increasing usefulness 
to those in adverse circumstances, for whose benefit 
it was established. It is with much pleasure the 
committee have to report that the annual festival 
dinner, held in May last, was one of the most 
successful in the history of the institution, and they 
take this opportunity of acknowledging their great 
indebtedness to the Right Hon. the Earl of Lathom, 
G.C.B , who so kindly presided on that occasion, and 
whose earnest appeal on behalf of the funds of the 
charity elicited such a generous and substantial 
response. The committee desire also to offer their 
most sincere thanks to those gentlemen who so 
kindly acted as stewards, and to all friends who in 
any way rendered assistance in contributing to the 
success of the anniversary. 
In the past year eighteen pensioners have passed 
away, four of them leaving widows, three of whom, 
whose cases having been investigated and found to be 
deserving and eligible, have been placed on the 
pension list at £16 per annum, in succession to their 
late husbands, in accordance with Rule III., 13. The 
names of two pensioners have been removed from the 
list, their circumstances having altered whereby they 
are no longer eligible to receive aid from the funds. 
The committee are glad to announce that they have 
decided to recommend an increase of twenty 
pensioners to the number at present on the books, 
ten of whom having been accepted in conformity with 
Rule III., 5, they ask the subscribers to place on the 
funds without election. The remaining ten will be 
elected by the votes of the subscribers in the usual 
way, making a total number of pensioners of one 
hundred and sixty-one. It is a great pleasure to the 
committee to feel justified in thus increasing their 
liabilities, and to recommend to be placed on the 
pension list the largest number of candidates ever 
admitted at any one election since the establishment 
of the institution ; whilst, at the same time, they re¬ 
gret that with liabilities which it is impossible for 
them to accurately estimate, they are unable to ren¬ 
der assistance to a greater number of those applicants 
who are appealing for aid. 
It is gratifying to the committee to be able to re¬ 
port the formation of a new branch of the institution 
at Exeter, which was inaugurated after a most 
successful meeting held at that place, presided over 
by the Mayor of Exeter and addressed by the 
treasurer and secretary of the institution ; and the 
committee would express their hearty thanks to the 
promoters of the meeting, and especially to the hon. 
treasurer and secretary, for their assiduity and 
energy, which went far to ensure its success. They 
would also present their grateful thanks to the hon. 
treasurers and secretaries of the Worcester, the 
Bristol and Bath, the Wolverhampton, and the 
Birmingham Auxiliaries for their services and un¬ 
grudging labours in advancing the cause. In the past 
year a meeting was held at York, presided over by the 
Lord Mayor of that city, in furtherance of the 
objects of the institution, and from the success which 
attended it the committee believe that a greater 
interest will be taken in the charity in that part of 
the country. There have also been held a floral 
service at York Minster, a flower and fruit stall in 
connection with a floral exhibition at Exeter, pre¬ 
sided overby county ladies, garden fetes at Osberton, 
and Reigate, a fruit show at Reading, and concerts 
at Altrincham on behalf of the funds, to the organisers 
of which, and to the others friends in various parts 
of the country who have assisted the institution in any 
way, the committee would tender their very hearty 
thanks. 
In drawing attention to the fact that the present 
year will witness an event which is unparalleled in the 
annals of this country, viz., the completion of the 
sixtieth year of our beloved Queen’s beneficent reign, 
the committee beg to announce that they have 
determined to endeavour to commemorate so unique 
an occurrence by establishing a fund to be called 
" The Victorian Era Fund,” the interest of which 
shall be devoted to the temporary assistance of those 
applicants who are waiting to be placed on the 
pension list, and who have been subscribers to the 
institution. This proposal has already met with 
hearty approval from His Grace the Duke of West¬ 
minster (president), Baron Schroder (vice-president), 
C. Czarnikow, Esq. (vice-president), N. N. Sherwood, 
Esq. (trustee), Harry J. Veitch, Esq. (treasurer)—to 
whom the committee are indebted for the proposal— 
and many other friends of the institution, who have 
also promised generous contributions towards this 
object. The committee would point out that Her 
Majesty has been patroness of the charity for forty- 
five years, and only last year evinced her continued 
interest in its welfare by contributing £25 to its 
funds, and they believe that, in attempting to cele¬ 
brate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in such 
a manner and with the purpose in view, they will 
receive the support and practical sympathy of all 
friends of the institution, as well as of those who take 
an interest in gardening and flowers. The com¬ 
mittee have also resolved in honour of the event to 
send on June 21st next the sum of £5 to each un¬ 
successful candidate at the present election whose 
name is then on the applicants’ list. 
It is with feelings of deep regret that the committee 
have to record the decease of their valued colleague 
and friend, Mr. James Webber. From the year 1844 
his family had been warm supporters of the institu¬ 
tion, whilst for the past twenty-one years he himself 
had been a member of the committee, and had in- 
J 
variably done his utmost to promote the interests and 
further the objects of the institution, and his loss 
will be severely felt and his services greatly missed. 
The committee, in conclusion, have the privilege and 
the pleasure of announcing that the Right. Hon. 
Lord Rothschild has very kindly undertaken to pre¬ 
side at the fifty-eighth anniversary festival dinner, 
on Thursday, May 26th, 1897, at the Whitehall 
Rooms of the Hotel Metropole, and they confidently 
appeal to all those who are interested in the welfare 
of the charity to do their utmost to make the anni¬ 
versary a marked success. The committee earnestly 
hope that the thankfulness expressed for the success 
attained in the past will be an incentive to further 
exertions, so that the good work which has been 
carried on by the institution for fifty-eight years may 
continue to grow and prosper. 
Balance-Sheet. 
Dr. 
To Balance . £905 15 5 
„ Deposit.1,265 0 o 
„ Annual Subscriptions . £1,335 7 0 
,, Donations at and in consequence 
of annual dinner,including stewards’ 
lists and collecting cards . 2.492 1 II 
„ Return of income tax . 22 19 10 
Advertisements in annual list of 
subscribers . 47 11 0 
„ Dividends and interest on deposits 841 4 3 
- 4-739 4 0 
Or. 
By Pensions and gratuities . 
„ Expenses ot election and annual meeting ... 
,, Secretary’s salary. £250 0 o 
„ Office assistance ... 25 0 0 
„ Rent of office. 62 10 o 
„ Printing, general, including annual 
reports and lists of subscribers, 
appeals, &c. 
„ Stationary, including new sub¬ 
scription books . 
,, New Rules . 
„ Book of cheques . 
„ Expenses ot annual 
dinner .£170 18 0 
Less tickets sold ... 86 2 o 
,, Honorarium to J. S. Rowe 
„ Postage of appeals. 
,, Postage of reports, lists of sub¬ 
scribers, voting papers, ordinary 
postage and incidental expenses... 
„ Deputation and travelling ex¬ 
penses . 
„ Advertisement . 
„ Bank charge. 
ioj 16 3 
37 17 8 
726 
308 
8) 16 0 
220 
14 15 5 
54 19 10 
10 10 9 
220 
036 
Investment of life subscriptions Midland Rail¬ 
way 3 per cent. Debentures. ,,, 
On deposit . 
Balance with treasurer . 
£6909 19 
£2,787 18 
15 11 
338 10 
323 6 
500 0 
2,015 0 
929 13 
5 
o 
7 
0 
7 
0 
o 
3 
£6,909 19 5 
(Signed) Thomas Manning, Thomas Swift, J. Willard 
Auditors. 
As no comment was offered by those present, Dr. 
M. T. Masters proposed, and Mr. A. Outram 
seconded, that the report of the committee, as now 
read, be received and adopted. The resolution was 
carried unanimously. ~Mr. George Monro proposed 
that Mr. Harry J. Veitch be elected treasurer—a 
propDsition which was seconded and carried. Mr. 
J. H. White proposed and Mr. A. Outram 
seconded that Messrs. W. Robinson, Arthur W. 
Sutton, and H. E. Tillman be elected to serve on the 
committee in place of Messrs. G. Bunyard and T. A. 
Dickson, who retire by rotation, and Mr. James 
Webber, deceased. This was also carried twn con. 
Messrs. T. Manning, T. Swift, and J. Willard were re¬ 
elected as auditors. Mr. William Denning proposed 
that ; —1, Richard Brimblecombe, of Exeter, aged 
67, annual subscriber of £1 is. for sixteen years ; 2, 
Henry Downing, of Hitchin, aged 61, subscriber of 
£1 is., also life member for twenty years ; 3, Thomas 
Elsley, of Birmingham, aged 58, totally disabled, a 
life member for sixteen years, also contributed 
£7 8s. ; 4, Alfred George, ofBudleigh Salterton, aged 
69, annual subscriber of £1 is. for sixteen years ; 5, 
Oliver Goldsmith, of Bookham, aged 63, annual 
subscriber of £1 is. for twenty years ; 6, George 
James, of Binstead, Ryde, aged 67, annual subscriber 
of £1 is. for twenty-eight years, also contributed 
£l 9s. ; 7, Richard Newman, of Putney, aged 63, 
annual subscriber of £1 is. for sixteen years ; 8, 
Thomas Pyper, of West Kensington, aged 78, annual 
subscriber of £1 is., also life member for twenty-one 
years ; 9, Robert Squibbs, of Sleaford, aged 72, 
annual subscriber of £1 is. for thirty-seven years ; 
and 10, Elizabeth Woods, of Clapham, aged 63, 
widow of the late S. A. Woods, annual subscriber of 
£1 is. for nineteen years, being in distress and 
having in every way complied with the regulations, 
these ten applicants be placed on the pension list 
without the trouble or expense of an election, in 
accordance with Rule III, 5. This resolution was 
seconded and carried unanimously. 
Messrs. George Monro, S. M. Segar, and A. 
Outram were then appointed scrutineers of the 
ballot for an election from the candidates to fill the 
remaining ten vacancies on the pension list. The 
poll closed at 4 30 p.m. precisely. 
Soon after that time the chairman resumed his 
seat, and the scrutineers duly read out the result of 
the poll for each of the thirty-nine candidates. The 
following ten having secured the highest numbers of 
votes, were declared duly elected Y, Joseph Monk, 
3.957 '• 2, Charles Smith, 3,762 ; 3, William Milne, 
3,651 ; 4, Edmund Papworth, 3,395 ; 5, David Davis, 
3,307 ; 6, George Ashby, 3,255 ; 7, William Lee, 
3,190 ; 8, Eliza Webb, 3,107 ; 9, Thomas Sims, 2,930 ; 
and, 10, Rachel Jefferson, 2,802. 
Annual Friendly Supper. 
After the result of the poll was declared the meet¬ 
ing separated, but the members of the institution and 
their friends met again at 6 p.m around the festive 
board, in another room, to partake of what is termed 
" the annual friendly supper,” under the presidency 
of H. E. Milner, Esq. Amongst the company 
present were Messrs. Harry J. Veitch, James 
H. Veitch, John G. Veitch, N. N. Sherwood, 
George Bunyard, Bunyard, jun., W. Y. 
Baker, Baker, jun., J. Laing, H. J. Laing, H. B. 
May, J. H. White, George and Alex Monro, H. 
Turner, Turner, jun., Owen Thomas (the Queen's 
Gardener), A. Outram, A. F. BarroD.G. J. Ingram, 
W. Iceton, J. Ollerhead, George Wythes, James 
Hudson, Rudolph Barr, J. Barr, J. Willard, Thomas 
Glen, R. B. Gilson, W. J. Brewer, Drewett, S. M. 
Segar, &c. 
After the usual loyal toasts had been proposed and 
duly rendered, the chairman proposed " Continued 
Prosperity to the Institution, and Success to the 
Victorian Era Fund.” He referred in warm terms to 
the grand work the institution had accomplished in 
past years in providing for gardeners, market gar¬ 
deners, nurserymen, seedsmen and others, thus 
showing the comprehensiveness of the institution, 
and its far-reading power for good. The disbursing 
of over £7,000 in aid of its pensioners was sufficient 
testimony in itself that the institution was deserving 
of continued and increased support. The proposed 
"Victorian Era Fund” was an excellent thing in 
itself, and he appealed to all concerned to support it 
liberally. He coupled with the toast the name of 
Mr. Harry J. Veitch. 
The latter, in responding, referred in highly com¬ 
plimentary terms to the assistance rendered the 
