HANTS AND WILTS ADULT EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY,
AND, IN UNION WITH IT, THE BASINGSTOKE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.
The Fourth Annual Conference of the Hants and Wilts Adult Educational Society took place at the Town Hall, Basingstoke, on Monday last, presided over by the Very Rev. the Dean of Salisbury. The hall was tastefully decorated, over the chair being placed a large shield of the royal arms, and right and left, those of Hants and Wilts. These, with mottoes and emblems, were bordered with wreaths of laurel, dahlias, &c. The mottoes included ‟God save the Queen,” ‟Union is Strength,” and ‟Knowledge is Power.” The title of the Society was richly executed, as was also the following lines, by Campbell, at the opposite end of the room : —
‟Come bright Improvement on the car of Time,
And rule the spacious world from clime to clime ;
Thy handmaid arts shall every wild explore,
Trace every wave, and culture every shore.”
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The report was unanimously carried. The appointment of the Committee and Officers was moved by the Rev. C. B. KNIGHT, The Rev. G. D. Snow, of Farringdon, Alton, rose to open the place. Elizabeth Thane and Sarah Dunnings were called up to the Chairman, who addressed them on their receiving certificates of merit and handsomely bound books as prizes. The Rev. Dean told them he had great pleasure, on the part of the Society, in presenting them, and hoped that their past and present excellent conduct would be earnests for the future. Emma Isaurs' name was similarly complimented, but she lived at Petersfield, and was not present. To William Blake the DEAN expressed his particular pleasure in presenting him with a prize, as it was the second time. Charles Pusey was not present. James Vidler and Charles Burkett were much eulogised. Stephen Coles was not present. Edward Clinker, a very young prize man, was much complimented on receiving two certificates.
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