R. M. I. Boys.

deferred for completion . It was reported that there were twentysix vacancies to be filled at the election from the forty-five candidates . It was resolved to make a further investment of about £ 38 , 000 , and a vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs . Penn and Crosthwaite , for their continued kindness in making these investments free of charge .

On the report of the Centenary Festival , a letter from Sir Francis Knollys , on behalf of H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , expressing gratification with all arrangements and at the result achieved , was read .

Votes of thanks were passed to their Eoyal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , and the form which the same should assume was left in the hands of the Board of Management . A special vote of thanks and congratulation to the Secretary

was also passed . The following is copy of the letter referred to above : Marlborough House , Pall Mall , S . W . ( 11 th June 1898 .

My Dear Sir , —The Prince of Wales desires me to let you know that he was much pleased with the arrangements connected with the dinner last night . He thought that they were all excellent , and that-they reflected the greatest credit on those who had the management of the Festival .

His Boyal Highness considered the evening to have been a most successful one from every point of view . Yours truly , ( Signed ) FRANCIS KNOLLTS .

J . M . MCLEOD Esq ., Hon . Sec . Board of Stewards , R . M . I . Boys Centenary Festival . TPIHE Quarterly Court of Subscribers was held yesterday I ( Friday ) at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Eichard Eve Past Grand Treasurer presiding . The formal announcement was made

to the Court that at the Centenary Festival of the Institution , held on the 10 th of June , at which the Prince of Wales presided , the total subscriptions amounted to £ 134 , 000 , and that a letter had been received from Sir Francis Knollys expressing his Eoyal Highness ' s pleasure with the arrangements connected with the dinner .

The meeting afterwards declared vacancies in the School for the next election in October for twenty-six boys , the number of candidates being forty-five . Before the meeting broke up , Bro . G . E . Keyser made a statement as to the progress which waa

being made with the arrangements for erecting the new School buildings at Bushey , adding that tenders were going to be immediately put out for about 6 , 000 , 000 bricks , and for lifts . The Building Committee had resolved on having none but the best materials throughout .

ATHLETIC SPORTS AT THE BOYS SCHOOL . DESPITE the fact that unfavourable weather kept many visitors away from the Boys School on the occasion of the annual Athletic Sports of the pupils—on Saturday , 25 th ult . —there was a good gathering of friends of the Institution , and considerable enthusiasm among those who did brave the elements . Fortunately there was an improvement in the afternoon , and it was possible for most of the events on the programme to be decided , the following being the results :

Throwing the Cricket Ball . —Prize , the ball . 1 st Shaw ( 88 yards 4 inches ) . Second Greenwood . 100 Yards ( Under 13 ) . —First prize ( Tankard ) Curtis . Second ( Batting Gloves ) Chipp .

100 Yards ( open ) . —First prize ( Opera Glasses presented by Bro . H , Kemp ) Shaw . Second ( Drinking Cup ) Chadwick . High Jump ( Preparatory School ) . —First prize ( Bat ) Loxley . Second ( Pair of Pads ) Hawkins . The former cleared 3 feet 2 inches .

High Jump ( open ) . —First prize ( Handbag ) Campbell . Second ( Cricket Ball ) Chadwick . Height cleared , 4 feet 1 inch . 220 Yards ( under 13 ) Handicap . —First prize ( Cricket Bat ) Curtis . Second ( Album ) Aspden . 300 Yards ( open ) . —First prize ( Cricket Bag ) Shaw . Second ( Tankard ) Chadwick . Both prizes presented by Bro . A . B . Bennett .

High Jump ( under 13 ) . —First Prize ( Telescope ) Walker . Second ( Tennis Racquet ) Pickles . Height , 3 feet 10 inches . 440 yards ( open ) handicap . —First prize ( Bat ) Curtis . Second ( Handbag ) Grant . 220 yards ( Preparatory School ) . —First prize ( Football ) Loxley . Second ( Writing Case ) Ward .

100 yards Bicycle slow race . —Prizes presented by Bro . James Willing jun . and Bro . Henry Pritchard . First Tutton . Second Smith . Long Jump ( under 13 ) . —First prize ( Writing Case presented by Bro . James Willing jun . ) Pickles . Second Walker . Bicycle Tent-Pegging . —Prize ( Clock ) Tutton . Second Garraway .

Bicycle Bace , 220 yards without hands . —First Prize ( Tankard ) Tutton Second Buck .

220 yards ( open ) handicap . —First prize ( Cricket Bat ) Curtis . Second ( Pads ) Frost . The Gymnastic display , for which three prizes were provided by Bro . W . H . Kempster , M . D ., had to be postponed on account of the wet , and the seme fate befel the lug ol War , which was set down later in the programme ,

R. M. I. Boys.

Three-legged Race . —First Prize ( two Hockey Sticks ) Horsburgh and H . W . Roberts . Second ( two pairs of Fives Gloves ) Curtis and Smith . 100 yards ( Preparatory School ) . —First prize ( Bat ) Loxley . Second ( Batting Gloves ) Lloyd . 880 yards ( open ) . —First prize ( Cricket Bat ) Greenwood . Second ( Pads ) Chadwick . Third ( Batting Gloves ) Boden .

Old Boys' Race ( 220 yards ) . —First prize ( presented by the Sports' Committee ) Lillywhite . Second and third ( presented by the Old Masonians ' Society ) Walker .

Long Jump ( open ) . —First prize ( Pads ) Cowell . Second ( Hockay Stick ) Rees . 220 yards Race open to Public Schools only . —Prize ( value one guinea ) Attree , of St . Olave ' s , Southwark . Donkey Bace ( Preparatory School ) . —First prizes ( two Cricket Balls ) Loxley and Howson . Second ( two Knives ) Abbott and Hirst . Hurdle Race . —Prize ( Tankard ) Campbell . Second Owen .

Three-legged Race ( Preparatory School ) . —First prizes ( two Albums ) Abbott and Dover . Second ( two Pencils ) Hawkins and Loxley . Consolation Sack . Bace . —First prize ( Pads ) Owen . Second ( Hookey Stick ) Hughes .

220 yards Consolation Race . —First prize ( Hand-bag ) Long . Second ( Tennis Racquet ) Hemmings . Victor Ludorum . —Over 13 , prize presented by the Gavel Club , A . P Shaw . Under 13 , Tankard presented by the Assistant Masters , J . Curtis . The prizes were presented by Mrs . James Willing jun ., who was cordially thanked for her attendance and assistance on the occasion .

Alhambra . —Mr . Dundas Slater has lost no time in bringing about many important changes in the programme of this theatre , the principal being that of the relegation of the gorgeous and expensive ballets , and the substitution of a more up-to-date entertainment . Of course the Alhambra cannot entirely disassociate itself from the old traditions , and hence we have a charming little " ballet divertissement , " which does not exceed a quarter of an hour , and enables us to see our former favourites in the graceful persons of Mdlles .

Julie Searle , Ada Taylor , N . Houghton , and J . Casaboni . Miss Cissie Loftus renews her clever imitations , and Mdlle . Juliette Nesville brings back to our remembrance the songs and style of Madame Judie . The cheval de bataille is Signor Leopoldo Fregoli , who presents the latest specimen of his peculiar talent of rapid impersonation in the shape of the " The Eldorado Music Hall , " in which he is stated to represent thirty different characters . It is certainly

a wonderful performance , and must be very exhausting to the performer . Mr . Joe Elvin and Company ' s popular sketch " One of the Boys , " goes as well as ever , and brings the entertainment to a capital conclusion . We must not omit to mention Mr . Slater ' s highly artistic and useful programme , which in addition to the names of the artistes , contains the racing and cricket fixtures for the month , a diary of forthcoming events , and a list of cab fares .

BIRKBECK BUILDING SOCIETY . THE forty-seventh Annual Meeting of this Society was held on Thursday , the 30 th . ult ., at the Offices , 29 and 30 Southampton Buildings , Chancery Lane . The Report adopted states that during the financial year just closed the total receipts from all sources , taken with the disbursements , discloses the fact that the annual turnover has amounted to £ 37 , 488 , 736 , being a daily average of upwards of £ 120 , 000 for every business day that the Office has been opened throughout the year .

The Investments now exceed Ten Millions- £ 10 , 778 , 675—and the total Liabilities on Subscriptions and Deposits also exceed Ten Millions ; whilst the balance of assets in excess of liabilities amounts to £ 431 , 984 . The amount received for subscriptions during the year has reached the sum of £ 266 , 511 . After allowing for withdrawals , the amount standing to the credit of Investing members at the close of the year is £ 888 , 896 , and the balance of deposits to £ 9 , 457 , 794 , amounting together to £ 10 , 346 , 691 , an increase over the past year of £ 1 , 233 , 236 .

The investments in convertible securities and the cash in hand have been augmented to the extent of £ 1 , 212 , 079 , and now amount to £ 9 , 213 , 785 , of which £ 1 , 542 , 652 , is invested in consols and other Government securities , upwards of two-and-a-half-millions— £ 2 , 652 , 483—are inscribed in the books of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England ; and £ 619 , 206 represents cash at Bankers .

The number of Members who have joined the Birkbeck during the past year is 2 , 924 . In the Banking department , 2 , 116 current accounts , and 7 , 377 deposit accounts have been opened , in all 12 , 417 new accounts , being at the rate of 1 , 034 per month . The Register of Shareholders now contains the names of 13 , 601 members , and besides these there are 19 , 160 current accounts , and 52 , 333 deposit accounts ; thus making the total of members and depositors 85 , 094—the highest number ever attained . The number of shares in existence at the close of the year was 69 , 611 , which is also the hiehest number yet reached .

Since its establishment the Society has returned to the shareholders and depositors more than one hundred and ninety-four millions ( £ 194 , 672 , 808 ) , the whole amount having been repaid upon demand . The amount advanced to borrowers has been £ 3 , 559 , 256 , the amount of interest and bonus paid to investors and depositors is upwards of three millions sterling , tho exact figures being £ 3 , 322 , 147 , and the invested funds now exceed ten millions sterling— £ 10 , 778 , 675 .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

rpHE funeral of the late Bro . T . P . Stewart , of Reading , JL who died somewhat suddenly on the 23 rd ult ., at the age of 48 , took place on Tuesday , 28 th . Deceased was , at the time of his death , Secretary of the Grey Friars Lodge , No . 1101 , and a number of his fellow members attended the

funeral , headed by the Worshipful Master Brother W . B . Biddies . Several Brethren of the Union Lodge , No . 414 were also present . Both the Lodges sent handsome emblematic wreaths .