Excerpt from Society of Engineers: Established May, 1854; Transactions for 1886

First then let me turn to our Society. And here I must congratulate my predecessor upon the satisfactory condition in which he hands the affairs of the Society over to me. Notwithstanding an exceptional but unavoidable pressure upon our funds with which he had to deal upon taking ofice, by good management, supplemented by the efficient working of our secretary, he leaves our financial position substantially improved, as the annual statement of accounts passed by our auditor shows. The muster-roll of the Society continues to be well sustained; and notwithstanding the losses which we in common with all other institutions must inevitably experience from deaths, resignations, and other incidental causes, we are able to maintain a good front, by reason of fresh accessions to our ranks during the past year. Considering the long-con tinned depression with which we have been struggling and from which we have not yet emerged, our numerical strength, and in, fact our position generally, is most satisfactory. Let me remind you that it is within the power of every Member to aid in still further improving that position by introducing. Members, and if you will only take the matter up with the earnestness it deserves we Shall advance rapidly in that as well as in all other respects. I do not forget that several of our Members have 'exerted themselves most creditably in this connection, and on behalf of the Society I thank them for so doing. I would suggest that Members in the provinces should look their friends up in this matter, for it is the experience of many of us that professional friends only want looking up a little to be induced to join us. And what is the experience of some would surely be the experience of all, if they would only give themselves a little praiseworthy trouble. I leave the matter in the hands of the Members, only asking them to support me by doing, or endeavouring to do, something for the Society in the direction I have indicated. All have not equal opportunities, but those who are favourably placed in this respect cannot be said to have the interests of the Society at heart if they neglect these opportunities when they arise, or even if they do not seek to create them.

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