Report for the Session 1891-92

To the members of the Doncaster Microscopical & General Scientific Society – Your Committee is pleased to be able to present its Thirteenth Annual Report & to congratulate the members generally upon the increased usefulness of the work undertaken by the society.

During the early part of last session it was suggested that this society should adopt a scheme of University Extension Lectures in connection with the Yorkshire College, Leeds. Such scheme within certain limitations being aided by a grant from the County Council. As work of this kind was thought to be within the legitimate scope of the society the proposal at once received the favourable consideration of your committee & arrangements were accordingly made for the delivery of a course of 8 lectures on Magnetism & Electricity by Mr. V.P. Sells, M.A., F.C.S.

The course began on Feb 12 1892 & was (with one exception) continued weekly until the end. An examination was held on April 12 for which 16 students entered. The following eight passed T.L. Anderson, F.G. Haynes, R.J.A. Pearson, Robert True; J.P. Crouch, W.L. Dixon, W.H. Jackson, A.G. Wilson. The four at the head of the list were placed in the first class.

The following details are copied from the return sent to the Victoria University & will be of Interest.
Course Tickets sold – 176
Average Attendance at Lectures – 207.5
Average attendance at Class – 88.5
Total Receipts (excluding grant) – £26 5s 5d
Total expenses – £28 7s 10d.
Grant from County Council – £15 0s 0d.
There is thus a balance of nearly £13. 0s 0d. Which with the consent of the Count Council is set aside as a reserve fund in case a deficiency may arise through any future course being less successful than the very excellent one of which particulars are now given.

The County Council has expressed a hope that the society may continue the work & your committee is now making arrangements for another course in the early part of next year.

The special work of the society was somewhat overshadowed by that in connection with the University Extension Lectures & as a consequence no ordinary meetings were held after Xmas.

The Papers or Lectures given before Xmas were as follows.
“The Natural History & Habit’s of Some of our Smaller Moths” by Mr. H.H. Corbett, M.R.C.S.
“Notes on Lantern & Lantern Slides” by Mr. M.H. Stiles

The average attendance at theses was nine, which is the smallest yet recorded. Six new members have joined during the year & six have retired leaving 38 on the list, the same number as last year.

From the appended statement of Accounts, it will be seen that the financial position is good, the balance in the hand of the treasurer having increased from £11-6-2 to £18-11-2

Receipts	£   s   d
Balance in hand Oct 28, 1891	11  6  2
One subscription for 1892-3 & 1893-4	5  0
29 Subscription for 1891-2	7  5  0
2 subscriptions for 1891-2	10  0
One associate subscription for 1891-2	2  6
Interest from bank	8  6
	£19  17  2
Payments
Rooms for meetings	7  6
Printing, Hartley & sons	15  9
Postage	2  9
Balance in hand	19  1
Balance in bank	17  12  1
	£19  17  2

 

Examined & found correct

Signed J. Greenhalgh Walker

[All in the handwriting of M.H. Stiles (Hon. Sec. & Treasurer)]

[This represents a copy of the statement of accounts as presented to the auditor (J. Greenhalgh Walker who signs it) prior to it being read to the general meeting and then adding to the minute book]