70 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Januiry  26,  1899. 
GARDENERS’  ROYAL  BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
Annual  General  Meeting. 
The  tone  of  the  speakers  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Gardeners’ 
R  )yal  Benevolent  Institution  meeting,  held  at  Simpson’s  on  Thursday 
last,  was  congratulatory  throughout,  as  it  well  might  be,  considering  the 
eminently  satisfactory  financial  condition  and  the  excellent  manner  in 
which  the  Society’s  affairs  are  conducted.  As  usual,  Mr.  Harry  J. 
Veitch  was  the  presiding  genius,  and  he  was  supported  by  the  Rev.  W. 
Wilks,  Dr.  Maxwell  T.  Masters,  and  Messrs.  G.  Monro  and  Ranger 
Johnson.  In  addition  to  these,  we  observed  Messrs.  J.  II.  Veitch, 
J.  Fraser,  J.  Hudson,  R.  Dean,  A.  Outram,  W.  Roupell,  T.  Peed,  Jesse 
Willard,  and  ,T.  H.  White,  After  the  usual  formal  business,  the  Chair¬ 
man  called  upon  the  Secretary  to  read  the  report  and  balance  sheet, 
which  are  appended. 
Report  of  Committee  for  1698. 
In  presenting  their  annual  report  for  the  year  1898  the  Committee  of 
the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  have  much  satisfaction  in 
being  able  again  to  congratulate  the  members  and  subscribers  on  the 
prosperous  condition  of  the  Institution,  its  continued  success,  and  the 
increased  benefits  it  has  been  the  means  of  conferring  on  a  largo  number 
of  old  and  worthy  people  who  have  been  compelled  to  seek  its  assistance. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1893  there  were  163  pensioners  on  the 
funds— ninety-three  men  and  seventy-five  widows,  entailing  an  annual 
liability  for  annuities  of  £3060. 
During  the  year  sixteen],of  these  have  died,  five  of  the  men  leaving 
widows,  whose  applications  for  a  continuance  of  the  pension  have  been 
carefully  considered  by  the  Committee,  and  their  cases  having  been 
found  to  be  in  every  way  satisfactory  and  deserving  they  have  been 
placed  on  the  funds  at  £16  a  year  for  life  under  Rule  iii.  13.  Tbeir 
several  names  and  ages  are  as  follows: — 1,  .lane  Warr,  widow  of  Silas 
Warr,  North  Cadbury,  Bath,  aged  seventy-one  ;  2,  Mary  Wad}’,  widow  of 
Michael  Wady,  Bakers  Lane,  Streatham,  aged  sixty-nine  ;  3,  Euphemia 
Lowe,  widow  of  Peter  Lowe,  Cambray,  Cheltenham,  aged  seventy  ; 
4,  Phoenicc  Colc’nan,  widow  of  W.  Coleman.  Southborough,  Kent,  aged 
cighty-one  ;  5,  Frances  A.  Holmes,  widow  of  A.  H.  Holmes,  Kyrle  Road, 
Wandsworth  Common,  aged  sixty-five. 
Arrangements  were  made  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  for  celebrating 
the  annual  festival  dinner  in  aid  of  the  funds  in  .lune,  at  which  the  Duke 
of  Portland  had  undertaken  to  preside.  Unfortunately,  through  ill-health, 
his  Grace  was  unable  to  be  present,  but  his  place  was  filled  by  Sir  Oswald 
Mosley,  Bart.,  who  occupied  the  chair  in  his  Grace’s  stead.  The  Com¬ 
mittee  desire  to  place  on  record  their  deep  indebtedness  to  Sir’Oswald 
Mosley  for  his  great  kindness  in  coming  forward  to  assist  the  Charity  in 
the  manner  he  did,  and  for  his  advocacy  of  its  claims.  They  desire  also 
to  express  their  gratitude  to  the  Duke  of  Portland  for  very  kindly  pro¬ 
mising  to  preside  at  the  festival  on  a  future  occasion.  The  Committee 
would  take  this  opportunity  of  tendering  their  sincere  thanks  to  those 
friends  who  rendered  assistance  as  stewards,  to  those  who  sent  flowers  or 
frnit,  and  to  all  who  in  any  way  contributed  to  the  success  of  the  dinner. 
The  Committee  further  desire  to  offer  their  grateful  thanks  (o 
supporters  in  various  parts  of  the  country  who  have  been  instrumental  in 
arranging  concerts,  flower  stalls,  the  opening  of  gardens,  &o.,  in  aid  of 
the  Institution.  They  would  specially  tender  their  sincere  thanks  to  the 
hon.  secretaries  of  the  several  auxiliaries  for  the  valuable  services  they 
have  rendered  the  Institution  in  its  work.  The  Committee  have  to  report 
that  in  consequence  of  the  expiration  of  their  tenancy  in  Parliament 
Street  they  were  obliged  to  seek  fresh  offices.  These  were  most  difficult 
to  obtain  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood,  but  they  are  glad  to  be  able  to 
announce  that  they  have  secured  suitable  and  more  prominent  offices  at 
175,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  S.W.,  and  they  are  hopeful  that  the 
new  address  will  prove  advantageous  to  the  Charity  in  making  it  more 
widely  known. 
Committee,  after  much  deliberation,  have  decided  to  recommend  an 
addition  of  seventeen  pensioners  to  the  list — five  by  resolution  under 
Rule  iii.  5,  and  twelve  by  votes  in  the  usual  way.  This  number  is  six 
over  and  above  the  vacancies  which  have  occurred  during  the  past  year, 
and  will  make  the  total  number  of  pensioners  on  the  list  174.  *The  Com¬ 
mittee  are  fully  aware  of  the  increased  liabilities  they  are  incurring,  but 
they  feel  confident  that  the  majority  of  the  friends  of  the  Institution 
throughout  the  country  will  endorse  their  action  in  what  may  be  termed 
a  “  forw  ard  policy  ” — viz.,  that  of  assisting  a  larger  number  of  applicants 
tain  perhaps  some  may  consider  they  are  warranted  in  doing  with  their 
present  average  income. 
The  Committee  are  very  pleased  to  inform  the  subscribers  to  the 
Victorian  Era  Fund  that  its  operations  during  the  past  year — the  first  of 
its  existence — have  been  greatly  beneficial  to  the  unsuccessful  candidates 
who  were  formerly  subscribers  of  the  Institution,  and  who  are  awaiting 
election.  The  total  amount  disbursed  from  the  fund  was  £106  lOs.,  and 
was  apportioned  as  follows  :  Andrew  Bryan,  subscriber  thirteen  years, 
£9  153.;  Francis  Nixon,  thirteen  years,  £9  15s.  ;  James  Plevy,  tw'clvc 
years,  £9;  George  Staples,  eleven  years,  £8  5s.;  Caroline  Woods, 
eleven  years,  £8  os.  ;  John  Gibbons,  ten  years,  £7  10s. ;  James  Watt, 
year.-,  £7  10s.  ;  Elizabeth  Hackwell,  nine  years,  £6  153.  ;  George 
Weills,  nine  years,  £6  15s. ;  Alfred  Barnfield,  eight  years,  £6  ;  Annie 
Hatch,  eight  years,  £6;  Lucy  Mitchell,  seven  years,  £5  6s.;  Joseph 
Shearn,  seven  years,  £5  5s,  ;  Alexander  Lee,  five  years,  £3  15s. ;  Thomas 
Evans,  four  years,  £3  ;  William  Gould  two  years,  £1  10s.  ;  William 
Thomas,  two  years,  £1  10s.  ;  Emma  Woodward,  one  year,  153.  ;  total. 
£10Q  10s.  •  >  '  . 
The  Committee  would  again  point  out  that  the  interest  derived  from 
the  fund  is  devoted  exclusively  lor  the  benefit  of  those  candidates  who 
have  been  subscribers  to  the  Institution.  The  amount  raised  for  this  fund 
was  £4075,  and  the  Committee  ere  very  anxious  to  bring  up  the  total  to 
£5000.  To  do  this  they  require  £925,  and  towards  that  sum  they  have 
received  during  the  past  year  £540,  whilst  the  following  gentlemen  have 
kindly  promised  £50  each  conditionally  on  the  amount  being  obtained  :  — 
N.  Sherwood,  Esq.,  Arthur  W.  Sutton,  Esq.,  Leonard  Sutton,  Esq.,  and 
Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  Thus  they  require  but  £185  to  claim  these 
promised  gifts  and  complete  the  sum  of  £5000,  and  they  are  confident  of 
being  able  to  do  this  before  the  close  of  the  present  year. 
In  concluding  their  nport  the  Committee,  with  feelings  of  deep 
regret,  have  to  refer  to  the  losses  the  Institution  has  sustained  by  the 
death  of  many  valued  friends  and  supporters  during  the  past  year, 
amongst  whom  they  would  specially  mention  the  late  Earl  of  Mansfield,  a 
Vice-President  of  the  Institution  and  an  annual  subscriber  to  its  funds 
for  fifty-two  years  ;  the  late  Sir  Henry  W.  Peek,  Bart.,  also  a  Vice- 
I’rcsident  amt  an  annual  subscriber  for  ihirty-two  years  ;  the  late  Baron 
Fer  ir.and  do  Rothschild,  who  for  many  years  was  a  generous  contributor 
to  the  funds,  and  who  cccupied  the  chair  at  the  anniversary  festival  in 
1887  ;  also  the  late  Lord  Hillingdon/for  many  years  .a  supporter  of  the 
Charity  ;  and  the  late  Eail  of  Lathom,  Chairman  of  the  anniversary 
festival  in  1896.  The  warm-hearted  liberality  and  personal  interest  of 
these  many  friends  will  be  sorely  missed,  and  the  Committee  earnestly 
appeal  for  new  friends  and  supporters  to  take  the  places  of  those  who 
for  many  years  nobly  helped  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution 
to  succour  those  who  in  their  old  age  and  adverse  circumstances  have  been 
obliged  to  seek  its  aid. 
Dr.  B.-vl-Vnce  Sheet,  1698. 
To  Balance  ...  .  . 
. 
.  •  • 
£908 
1 
2 
,,  Deposit  account  . 
•  •  •  •  *  • 
... 
2415 
0 
0 
,,  Annual  subscriptions 
••• 
1496  13 
1 
,,  Donations  at  annual  dinner,  and  by  collectiii 
g  cirds  ... 
•  •• 
1516 
3 
1 
,,  Donations,  Victorian  Eia  Fund . 
•  •  •  • •• 
540 
5 
0 
,,  Return  of  income  tax  . 
•  •  •  •  •  • 
24 
0 
0 
,,  Advertisements  in  subscribers’  list 
•  •  •  • •• 
41 
10 
6 
,,  Sale  of  office  fittings  . 
•••  ••• 
5 
5 
0 
,,  Dividends  and  interest  on  deposits 
. 
... 
837 
0 
8 
£7833 
1.-  1 
1 
6 
Cit. 
B  v  Pensions  and  gratuities  . 
•••  ••• 
•  *  • 
£2892 
o 
O 
11 
,,  Expense^  of  annual  meeting  and  election 
.  »  •  .  .  • 
.  .  • 
15 
14 
9 
,,  Secretary’s  salary  .  . 
...  £250 
0 
0 
,,  Office  assistance  ...  . 
•JG 
10 
0 
,,  Rent,  cleaning,  fire,  and  light . 
82 
9 
7 
.3  .'■8 
19 
7 
„  Printing  . 
•  •  •  •  •  • 
,  , 
125 
12 
6 
Stationery  . 
•  •  •  •  •  • 
... 
30 
18 
3 
,.  Book  of  cheques  ...  . 
2 
1 
8 
,,  Expenses  of  annual  dinner . 
...  191 
19 
4 
Less  tickets  charged  . 
...  Ill 
6 
0 
.  80 
13 
4 
,,  Advertisements  *  ...  . 
. 
... 
3 
3 
0 
,,  Postages  . 
. 
... 
50 
4 
2 
,,  Travelling  expenses . 
•  •  •  • 
5 
6 
10 
,,  Removal  expenses  ...  . 
...  ... 
12 
11 
2 
,,  Carriage,  telegrams,  &c . 
...  ... 
16 
19 
3 
,,  Bank  charge.^... 
•  •  •  •  .  • 
0 
3 
3 
,,  Transferring  investments  to  i:ew  Trustees,  h 
ilf  brokerap 
e 
81 
0 
6 
,,  Victorian  Era  Fund  ...  ...  . 
...  67 
15 
6 
,,  Victorian  Era  Fund,  on  dejmsit  . 
...  472 
10 
0 
540 
5 
0 
,,  On  deposit,  geneial  fund  . 
•  •  •  .  •  • 
... 
2692 
10 
0 
,,  Balance  with  Treasurer 
972 
1 
7 
,,  Balance  with  Secretary  . 
3 
9 
9 
975 
11 
4 
£7833  18  6 
VICTORIAN  ERA  FUND.  B.vlance  Sheet,  189  L 
To  Dividends  on  £2128  5  per  cent.  Greit  Western  Railway 
■  Consol  Stock  . £128  4  6 
„  Return  of  income  tax  .  0  2  11 
To  Donations  received  during  1898  towards  a  further 
sum  of  £925  required  for  this  fund . 
£1  0  15  6 
540  5  0 
By  gratuities 
,,  Unpresented  cheque 
„  Cheque  book  ... 
„  Balance  in  h;.nJ 
At  bankers 
Do.  on  deposit 
lOG  It)  0 
1  10  0 
67  15 
472  10 
105  0  0 
0  10  0 
25  5  6 
130  15  6 
-  540  £ 
Thos.  Manning,  4 
Tho.'J.  Swift,  >  Auditors. 
Jesse  Willard,  J 
So  complete,  said  Mr.  Veitch,  in  moving  the  adoption  of  the  report 
and  balance  sheet,  were  the  details  there  gitcn  that  little  remained  to  be 
added.  He  deJred,  however,  to  emphasise  one  or  two  points,  particularly 
the  fact  that  the  expenses  generally,  had,  during  the  year  just  closed  f 
been  less  than  in  any  previous  year  since  the  S.ciely’s  foundation. 
