In the absence of the President, the Earl of Powis, in consequence of family bereavement, the Chair was taken by Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., one of the Vice-Presidents of the Club.

The following report was then read by Mr. Morris P. Jones, for the Secretary:

REPORT of the General Committee to the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Powys-land Club.

The completion of the eighth year of the Club's existence occurs under favourable circumstances. The number of its Members is larger than ever it was. Two Members have died during the year -R. H. Sturkey, Esq., and Edward Williams, Esq., of Talgarth; two have resigned; twenty-four have joined the Club, which now numbers 179 Members. The Committee is glad to report that the MS. already in hand, is sufficient to fill at least half of the new part, and several new subjects have been announced, which will probably continue the supply. The finances are in a very satisfactory state. The opening of the Powys-land Art Exhibition this day renders it inexpedient to prolong this Report, and, therefore, the Committee content themselves with congratulating the Club on the general prosperity of its affairs. A new rule is to be prepared, in order to comply with the requirements of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, whose certificate is necessary under the Act 6 and 7 Vic., c. 36,-an Act to exempt from county and borough, parochial, and other local rates, land and other buildings occupied by scientific and literary societies. The 17th rule is to the same effect as the one recommended to be adopted, but the Registrar requires the rule to be in the words of the Act. Two alterations in the rules of the Museum and Library will also be proposed-the one to make the Museum more freely open to the public, and the other to make the books in the Library open gratuitously to the public under suitable regulations. This is proposed with a view of qualifying the Library for a grant of books which are required to be open to the public.

An abstract of the following statement of the Hon. Treasurer's account was then read. (See pp. xxviii and xxix.)

The Powys-Land Club in account with Thomas Bowen, Esq.,

33 1

3

Ditto for printing Part XVII

Paid for drawing and lithographing Illustrations, printing circulars and covers, Reporter at Meeting, etc.

Paid for Carriage of parcels from Mr. Richards of Report and Parts XVI and XVII, and postage of same to Members; also of back parts to new Members; postage of circulars, collecting subscriptions, and remitting same.

Balance carried down

57 4

Hon. Treasurer, for the year commencing 1st October, 1874,

30th September, 1875.

By Balance in hand

Cash received for Subscriptions as follows:

10 Subscriptions from Original Members at 10s. 6d.

.£175 3 9

129 Subscriptions from Ordinary Members at £1 18. each 135

0

1 Continuing Member in arrear two years (£2 2s.)

5 Continuing and deceased Members, in arrear, amounting to £5 15s. 6d.

4 Members joined on and since the 1st Oct., 1875.

180 Members now on the roll, October, 1875. Cash received for Books and Catalogues sold

1875, October. By Balance in hand brought down

The CHAIRMAN said he thought the reports of the General Committee and that of the Treasurer were highly satisfactory, and he begged to move "That the Reports now read be adopted and printed, and circulated amongst the Members."

The Venerable Archdeacon FFOULKES said that he had great pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr. Morris Jones was to be congratulated on the great success that had attended his efforts, which were manifest to all assembled there that day. (Applause.) It was also wonderful to see what the energy of one man could accomplish, and he had, no doubt, willing labourers with him, but still it required an organising head to direct them. The work inaugurated there, he believed, would be productive of much greater things, because he felt that a great amount of talent lay buried in their schools, and he was most anxious to see it brought out and developed. Efforts were made at the time he went about inspecting schools, but he did not know whether those studies were continued, as he had not the opportunities of visiting schools that he had then, and he rather felt that it was not so much cultivated as it ought to be. The Privy Council acted more wisely than formerly, and had abandoned the ridiculous form of examination that once existed. He was afraid that a good deal of neglect arose in other matters from masters striving after the grant which was given to the three R's, but if the people were to be properly educated, attention must be paid to drawing, to give a taste for works of art; and people in the country would take as much interest in those things as was taken by the artizans in London and large towns. He sincerely hoped that this exhibition would be a benefit to Welshpool and the neighbourhood. He thought, if books were to be given to the library, that great care should be taken in looking after them; because people borrowing them, however good their intentions were at the time, sometimes neglected to return them, or kept them too long. If opportunities for study could be afforded in the library, he thought it would be an advantage that many would appreciate.

The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution to the Meeting, and it was carried unanimously.

66

R. E. JONES, Esq. (the High Sheriff), said that he begged to move, That in pursuance of the notice given under Rule XVII, the following addition to the rules of the Club be made, viz. :—

"XVIII. That no dividend, gift, division, or bonus in money shall be made unto or between any of the Members of the Powys-land Club, or of the said Museum or Library, or any other person whatsoever."

That the following alteration and addition to the Rules of the Powys-land Museum and Library be made, viz. :—

That Rule I be altered to read thus: :-

"I. That the public shall be admitted to the Museum every week-day, from Ten to Four, on the payment of an admission

fee of Threepence, except when the Council shall otherwise determine; and except on the last Saturday in each month, when, from One to Four, it shall be open free of charge."

And that the following additional rule be adopted :—

"That the Books in the Library shall be open gratuitously to the public, subject to such regulations as shall be made by the Council."

He (Mr. Jones) thought with respect to what the Archdeacon had said about the lending of books, they must trust that to the vigilance of the Council. In order that the museum might be filled, he thought each clergyman should look through the old books and documents of his parish, and copy out the interesting passages that may be found in them. He agreed with Archdeacon Ffoulkes that there was a great deal of talent buried in obscure places that ought to be brought to light, and notably so in the excellent carvings that had been exhibited by David Thomas, the joiner, of Kerry, the merit of which was admitted by all who had seen them.

The Rev. D. P. LEWIS said that he had great pleasure in seconding the motion. He thought it was most important that they should escape paying rates for a building like their Museum and Library, and to have a grant of books, but in order to get these it was necessary that the building should be open to the public. A good deal of attention was being paid to the work going on in their national schools, but it was important, when they had taught people to read, that profitable reading should be placed before them, instead of giving them unwholesome police reports and histories of such characters as Dick Turpin, which were sure to lead young and uninformed minds astray.

The motion was then put and unanimously agreed to.

STANLEY LEIGHTON, Esq., said he had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn for presiding on that occasion. (Applause.) Societies of that kind possessed the great advantage of making popular that knowledge and love of antiquities which existed in the neighbourhood, and it was only when that feeling was cultivated that ancient remains would really be preserved. No law could preserve them unless the people themselves showed their anxiety for their preservation, and it was in societies like the one whose eighth anniversary they were that day celebrating, that fondness for the history of places in their own neighbourhood could be created and fostered. The Powys-land Club was happy in having the great owners of property in the neighbourhood amongst its members, who took an interest in the work, and none did more so than their esteemed president the Earl of Powis, and the President of that day, Sir Watkin. (Applause.) It was also a great pleasure to see the latter gentleman resuming those duties that for a time he had been unable to discharge. (Applause.)

Mr. EDYE seconded the motion, saying he felt such interest in the