Schools - Lectures
Schools
On the 1st of February the Boys British School received the Borough-road Inspector of Normal Schools, who examined the boys in every branch of their studies, and expressed great satisfaction at their efficiency. F. North, Esq. presided, and finding that the Secretary’s a/cs showed a deficiency of £6, handed a cheque for the amount.
School Treat. On the 16th of June, 500 of the 600 children belonging to the St. Clement’s and All Saints’ parish schools partook of a good tea in the new schoolroom, after which they proceeded to the East hill, there to engage in games. Up to this year, 1854, for a period of over 30 years, to my own knowledge, successively, either as Mrs Milward or as Countess Waldegrave, that lady continued to take an active and charitable interest in the schools of those two parishes, and annually assisted at their gatherings for enjoyment.
The Boys’ National School on the East hill was opened on the 4th of December. It was built on the site of the former school, which was used for children of both sexes.
Hastings Mechanics Institution.
“Mechanics’ Institutions” was the title of a lecture delivered for this society on the 10th of April, by Mr. John Townshend.
“Nebular Astronomy” was the topic of a lecture for the same association delivered at the rooms on the 30th of January by Mr. D. Macintosh of Maidstone.
“The Philosophy of Dreams” in the form of a lecture, was ably treated of at the same rooms on the 6th of February, to an interested audience by J. L. Leveson, Esq. of Brighton.
“Words” was the text of two excellent lectures by the Rev. R. N. Young, the first of which was delivered to a delighted number of members on the thirteenth of February.
“The Electric Telegraph” was the title of a scientific lecture given in the rooms of the Institution by Mr. John Banks, on the 28th of February.
“History of Architecture” was ably treated in a second lecture, by Mr. W. J. Gant, on the 6th of March.
“Light” was the theme of a lecture which Mr. Joseph Pitter delivered to the gratification of his brother-members on the 13th of March.
“Newspapers” - chiefly historical - was the topic of an interesting lecture delivered by the Rev. John Stent, on the 20th of March.
Electricity was what Mr. J. Banks, not only described in his familiar way on the 28th, but with experiments also he electrified his audience in a “shocking” manner, at which they merely shook their hands and laughed.
“Comets” – those wandering bodies of the heavens that race about in all directions were lectured upon by Mr. Banks on the 17th of April, but with somewhat more dogmatism than later astronomers with more extended observations, would endorse.
