'The second anniversary of the Shanghai Marine Engineers' Institute was held Tuesday evening, in the Assembly Room at the Temperance Hall (in which building the Institute is at present located.) Mr.
W, Kingsmill officiated as Chairman and in response to invitations issued by Mr. J. M. Rogerson, Hon. Sec., on behalf of the members, the large room was nearly filled, the audience including a large proportion of ladies,—No tea or other refreshments were provided, it having been thought better to depend entirely on an amateur vocal and instrumental concert, to be preceded bya brief address from the Chairman, 'The Cuarnscan said the Committee of the Marine Engineers' Institute had done him the honour of asking him to preside over this public meeting of to-night. It was the second public meeting that had been held in connection with the Institute since its inauguration, and he was glad to see the room so well filled by members and those of their friends who took an interest in its welfare. The first meeting was an inaugural one, and was held shortly after the Institute was commenced. Since that period, a year had elapsed; and during that year the Institute had so prospered that it might now be said to have become one of the institutions of Shanghai. (Applause.) Although he was not @ marine engineer himself, he yet belonged to a cognate branch of engineering; and, for himself, could speak of the services rendered every day by members of this Institute. He was sorry that the somewhat short notice he had received of the day selected for holding the meeting, coupled with his absence Shanghai, had prevented him from bringing before them some more interesting subject, showing the made by the Institute and touching on its future prospects; but he might say that at present there were 76 paying members on the books, at a subscription of one dollar per month; so that the income for the year 1877, from subscriptions and entrance fees, amounted to $1,285.86; while the expenditure had been $1,251.17. Since the last annual meeting, another room had been added to the Institute, which had been furnished with an English billiard-table and the requisite other furniture, at a cost of $410; otherwise the Institute would have had a pretty large balance to its credit. An insurance on the furniture and books of the Institute had been effected for the sum of Tls. 1,500. The Library now contained upwards of 1,500 volumes, mostly works pertaining to engineering. Some of the very best and latest works had been recently added. The whole of the Library was presented by a few members of the Institute. This, said the Chairman, was a very good feature of the Institute, and deserved the highest commendation, Applause.) When in Shanghai last year, one of the members presented $500 to the Institute, to be expended in books; and since then other members had come forward in a similar liberal way, so that now the Library was doth extensive and good. Since the formation of the Institute, a little over two years ago, upwards of 100 members had joined. "About 24 of that number had this life. 'There were, however "number me' gone home, and others had departed of marine engineers constantly running to and from Shanghai, who had not yet become members, To all of these in port, invitations to be present at this anniversary had been sent, and it was gratifying to believe that several were present, (Hear, hear.) When they saw what the Institute had "done during the past year, and also what their friends had been' doing for it during the same period, it was not unlikely that they would also join and lend a helping hand to forward the wellbeing of so truly valuable an institution as this. (Applause.) Of course, the more members there were, the more money could be spent in conveniences, furniture, and general amusements, If they would only pull one and all together, next year they might even be in possession of com-odious premises of their own. He Hoped something of this kind would come to pass, To-night there remained little more for him to say. They were all more or less indebted to marine engineers for the si and anxiety which men in that capacity were required to display from morning to night when on duty—to listen to the slightest sound—to detect the slightest defective motion—in the action of the machinery under their charge, in order that passengers and cargo might be carried safely over the longest distances, (Loud cheers.)
The concert was then proceeded with, the programme containing no fewer than ten vocal and instrumental selections. Songs were given by Messrs. MoUolo, Good, Lamond, Quinton, and D Campbell Mr. J. M. Rogerson recited, in character, the well-known speech of Serjeant Buzfuz and Mr. Loam played a flute solo in his usual masterly manner. The programme ranged from "'grave to gay, From livd to severe," and everything was encored, Mr. Loam receiving the distinction of a double recall, to which he responded by playing some other selections in truly artistic style, being well accompanied on the piano by Mr. Beattie. Mr. Iburg accompanied the vocalists, and altogether the concert was both varied and goo At the close, on the motion Mr. Buyers, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Kingsmill for presiding, to which that gentleman briefly responded, and the meeting separated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.