Botanic Gardens a credit to philanthropy and public spirit
THE Linen Hall Library was the setting for the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Belfast Royal Botanical and Horticultural Company (Limited) on February 1, 1869, reported the News Letter.
The meeting had been convened for "the purpose of receiving a report and statement of accounts" from the board of directors and to elect five new directors who were to replace Dr Wyville Thomson, John Preston and William Bottomley who were retiring "by rotation" but entitled to stand for re-election, and also Mr N W Grimshaw and Mr Cowan who had resigned and the late Marquis of Downshire.
Mr Denis Leonard, the secretary, having read the advertisement convening the meeting then submitted the following report: "Your board are glad to be able to lay before their shareholders a more favourable report of the monetary affairs of the garden than any they have presented for several years; and that, from the result of the past year and the arrangements contemplated for the future, they hope to make the income meet the expenditure, as well as to increase the popularity and attractiveness of the gardens.
"It must be in the recollection of the shareholders that the disbursements of the year ending December 31, 1867, exceed the receipts by 257 9s, and that, at an adjourned meeting of the shareholders on the March 4 last, a committee was appointed to act in concert with your board, in order to procure additional subscriptions, by inducing the public to take an increased interest in their success.
"The board and the shareholders generally cannot but feel greatly indebted to the gentlemen who acted on that committee — namely, Messrs Edward Clarke, William Valentine, T Bushel, Adam Duffin, Thomas Gaffikin and William Bryson, who entered into the matter with their utmost energy, and gave most valuable assistance to your board.
"The result has been that no less than 95 new subscribers have been obtained; not including 15 shares, amounting to 103, which were sold, by reason of which the deficit in our income has been reduced to 45 8s 8d."
Mr Leonard address to the shareholders continued: "Your board have further to state in reference to the account now submitted, that there is also included in the annual disbursement a sum of 60 alone for bands; besides other expenditure incident to the free admission of the working classes on their Saturday half-holiday; against which the usual amount contributed by large employers has not been collected, and which would have turned this balance in favour of the company.
"Your board have to state that during the year no fewer than 45,000 availed themselves of the privilege of free admission."
Turning his attention to the company's income from subscriptions for the last five years Mr Leonard gave the following figures: 1864, 427 5s 9d, 1865, 478 6s 6d, 1866, 618 19s 6d, 1867, 499 7s 7d and 1868, 658 1s 4d.
He remarked: "From these circumstances the gratifying conclusion is established that the last year's income has been the largest stated one they have yet received, being 151 3s 6d more than the average of the preceding four years, and they anticipate that this income will not only be maintained, but augmented by additional subscriptions from the increasing population of the town and the great advantages and privileges conferred on the subscribers, and particularly those who may take shares (of which but a few yet remain to be disposed of)..."
Mr Leonard concluded: "The board have to report that they have completed the loan for 3,000, as authorised by former meetings, out of which they have paid off the mortgage of 2,500 to the Presbyterian Widows' Fund Association, and have applied the balance, after deducting legal expenses, in discharge of their liabilities to the bank, and to other parties, so far as it extended.
"This leaves a balance of 403 7s 10d still due, as appears from the accounts audited. They hope, however, out of the money expected from employers in reference to the Free Admission Fund, and by the sale of shares, as also by increased subscriptions and by greater economy in the future management of the gardens, to be able to extinguish this balance."
Close to the end of the meeting Mr William Bryson moved that Messrs John Preston, JP, William Bottomley, JP and Dr. Wyville Thomson be appointed as a sub-committee of Belfast Royal Botanical and Horticultural Company (Limited) and were to "wait on the directors of the banks and solicit subscriptions from them in consideration of the free admission to the gardens". Mr Frederick Kinahan seconded the motion, which was passed by the shareholders.
Next on the motion of the chairman, Mr A J Macrory, and seconded by Mr Kinahan, Messrs John Preston, JP, William Bottomley, JP, Dr Wyville Thomson, Dr Clarke, Mr David L Coates and Professor Young be elected as directors of the company.
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Wednesday 15 February 2012
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