in connection with the newly formed Church of England Christian Association.
“Self-Education” was intellectually treated as a desirable handmaid in the exigencies of life, by Mr. William Ransom. This was the last lecture of the year in connection with the Mechanics’ Institution, the date being Dec. 20th.
Concerts
A concert took place in the Market Hall on the 8th of March, under the management of Mr. Elford, the executants being local people, assisted by a few musicians from Kent.
Another concert was given in the same room on March 17th and was well attended. This was also by local professionals and amateurs for the relief of the sufferers by the Holmfirth flood. Mr. B. Wood led the instrumentalists and Mr. Elford the vocalists.
Mons. Julien’s celebrated band gave a well-attended concert in the Market Hall on the 21st of October.
Dinners
An “Opening Dinner” took place at the newly-built house in Robertson street, named the Royal Standard. Mr. Linfield was the landlord, Mr. R. Deudney the chairman and Mr. Peter Pagden the vice-chairman. The party numbered 87, and the dinner took the form of a reception to P. F. Robertson, Esq., as a gentleman who had expended a large sum of money in the buildings erected on the Crown land. It was not professedly a Conservative gathering, although as Mr. Robertson was known to be a Conservative, and likely to become a candidate for the borough, and the first tradesmen in Robertson street (Mr. Polhill, Mr. G. C. Hope and others) were Conservatives, with Mr. Deudney a Conservative as chairman, the so-called opening dinner could hardly assume any other than that of a political complexion. Anyway, it was so regarded by those of opposite politics, and an effort was made to increase the number, a few weeks later, at what was called Yates’s annual dinner at the “Royal Oak” — essentially a Liberal House and a Liberal gathering. The number present, however, (43) was only just half that of the Royal Standard party. The Royal Oak dinner was on the 17th of February, and, two days later, Mr. Hickes, the Conservative Mayor, gave a dinner to the members of the Town Council.
The annual dinner of the Trade-Protection Society was held at the “King’s Head” on the 16th of March, G. Scrivens, Esq. was the efficient chairman, and the number present was 30.
The next public dinner was of a decidedly political character, it being one that was given by 300 Conservatives at the Market Hall to the newly elected Borough Members, Messrs. Robertson and Brisco, and at which Mr. Hickes a Conservative Mayor presided. For the part thus taken the Mayor was publicly denounced by Councillor Ross, a leading Liberal. It had been bad enough to have one Liberal and one Tory to sit in the House of Commons but to have two Tories thrust upon them was gall and vinegar, as shewn by -
