of a dividend be deferred till the next half-yearly meeting, by which time it would, they believe, the capital account would be placed in a satisfactory condition. It being the first general meeting of the Company, the retiring directors were re-elected. Major Murray was surprised that the directors had worked without recompense, and proposed that they should be paid at the rate of £300 per year. Mr. Horner proposed, as an amendment, that the sum be £150 a year, and this was carried.
Apropos of the Queen's Hotel, it was rumoured in the month of August that an Hotel company on a large scale at St. Leonards, corresponding with the noble Queen's Hotel at Hastings, was in contemplation, the site selected being that occupied by the Sussex hotel, and the adjoining six or seven houses. It was said that a liberal offer was about to be made to Mr. G. Giovannini, the proprietor of that hotel, for the purpose. The present writer, who was on friendly terms with Mr. Giovannini, was assured by that gentleman that whatever foundation there might have been for such rumour, the project, so far as a the Sussex hotel was concerned, the project had been abandoned.
Workmen's Treats
Messrs. Rock and Son, whose regard for the welfare of those connected with the firm was well known, gave their employees a "day out" on Saturday June 27th, in conformity with their annual custom. Nearly 40 of these work men, having elected to spend their day at Bexhill, the party proceeded thither by a morning train, and where on their arrival, they set about to enjoy themselves in a variety of games (including cricket), and at suitable hours adjourned to the Bell inn for dinner and tea at which Mr. J. Rock jun. presided.
Mr. Howell's 39th Birthday Anniversary was celebrated in a manner that bespoke the good feeling that existed between master and men. Mr. Howell was an energetic and successful builder, and the men in his employ might be numbered by the hundred. It was not long before that his workmen presented him with an elegant silver inkstand in token of their esteem; and, as a proof that the good feeling was reciprocated, Mr. Howell on more than one occasion feasted and otherwise treated his numerous workpeople. In the present instance, there was a twofold incentive to the holiday - the birthday-keeping and the completion of a steam saw-mil. The huge chimney of the latter, which reared its head high above the contiguous building in Station road was completed on Saturday morning, July 11th, and then it was that all hands struck work and proceeded to the pay-table. The next general move was to the East hill, where cricket and other sports were indulged in until the evening, when a party of about 300 assem-
