The annual report, read by Mr. W. H. Bastard (secretary), stated, that, in spite of the commercial depression, the annual subscriptions showed an increase of over £60. upon the previous year. The amount received by collections had been £85. 10s. 6d., and the Management Committee expressed a hope that the clergymen who frequently recommended candidates would preach sermons once yearly for the benefit of the institution, The ladies' committee had continued its kind and careful supervision of the domestic management of the institution. During the year fifty children had been admitted into the institution, forty-two of whom had been elected by subscribers, and four under the various trusts. The health of the inmates had been very good. Only one death had occurred, and this had been from heart disease. The examinations, oral and written, of the inmates had been very satisfactory. In the Science and Art examinations the grants for mathematics and physiography had amounted to £72. In the drawing examinations thirty children had been marked "excellent" and received prizes, and seventy five had been marked "good". The committee regretted the loss of many supporters, prominent among them being Mr. John Hartley, a vice-president, and Mr. John Richards, an honorary secretary; and hoped that many who had not hitherto subscribed would do so during the ensuing year. The statement of accounts for the year ending December 31, 1884, showed that the receipts had been £4,861. 0s. 5d. Of this sum, £2,488. had been received from interest on securities, £1,081. from annual subscriptions, £104. 10s. from bequests, £93. 10s. from life bequests, and £70. 6s. 6d. from donations. The expenditure had been £4,816. 9s. 7d., leaving a balance in hand of £44. 10s. 10d.
The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the the report and statement of accounts, congratulated the committee upon the great work which the institution was doing, not only in Wolverhampton, but throughout the country. He believed that at present time the institution was second to none in the provinces. The fact that there had been only one death in a large establishment proved indubitably that the asylum was very healthy. The institution was one of which Staffordshire might well be proud. (Applause.) Mr. A. Illidge seconded the motion. The report was adopted.
The Rev. E. F. Wanstall moved that Messrs. W. H. Rogers, W. Edwards, S. York, H.Bate, T. Fisher, T. Holcroft, H. Denton, C. Wells, W. Thomas, W. Lees, A. Briscoe, J. Evans, W. W. Walker, and R. W. Lewis be the Board of Management for the ensuing year; that Messrs. C. C. Smith, T. Fisher, H. Bate, and W. Thomas be the Finance Committee; and that the thanks of the meeting be given to the Board of Management for the past year for the successful manner in which they had conducted the affairs of the Charity. The rev. gentleman was quite sure that so long as they had Mr. Rogers as chairman and Mr. Edwards as vice-chairman the institution would go on prospering. Mr. W. Barford seconded the motion, and it was carried. Mr. Charles Wells, in responding, also spoke in highest praise of the chairman's services.
On the motion of Mr. W. Farnworth, Messrs. J. P. Lamb and E. Underhill were appointed honorary secretaries.
Mr. Wells moved a vote of thanks to the Rev. E. F. Wanstall, the hon. chaplain, Mr. E. H. Thorne seconded the motion, and sopke of the infinite good which the rev. gentleman's teaching was effecting. The motion was adopted. Mr. Wanstall, in replying, said that he had just had a most gratifying letter from a former scholar, who was now in Africa.
The Ladies' Committee were thanked, on the motion of Rev. F. A. Williams, seconded by Mr. Ashwood (Gloucester). Thanks were also accorded to the honorary medical officers.
The Scrutineers then reported the election of 8 girls and 12 boys out of 48 candidates. The children elected are:-
| Girls | ||
| Bamberger, Ethel | (Redcar) | 668 votes |
| Smallwood, Ethel L. | (Wolverhampton) | 500 |
| Thompson, Ada | (Swindon) | 463 |
| Davies, Beatrice A. | (Heath Town) | 352 |
| Sturgess, Evaline | (Ashby-de-la-Zouch) | 343 |
| Ford, Evalyne | (Cobridge) | 323 |
| Walton, Ellen M. | (Hanley) | 302 |
| Edwards, Mary G. | (Stourbridge) | 269 |
| Boys | ||
| Thurstans, Bernard L | 971 | |
| Barton, P. V. | (West Bromwich) | 665 |
| Pawley, John W. | (Sutton Bonnington) | 665 |
| Coleman, Ernest E. | (Stratford on Avon) | 605 |
| Bill, George L. | (Bilston) | 558 |
| Peel, Herbert D. | (Lichfield) | 484 |
| Hewitt, William L. | (Eccleshall) | 482 |
| Rhodes, William P. | (Salford) | 465 |
| Walton, William F. | (Scaldwell) | 446 |
| Cook, Charles | (Atcham) | 435 |
| Young, John W. | (Malpas) | 428 |
| Bunch, Alfred W. | (Sedgley) | 342 |
The Mayor proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman as such, and as chairman of the Board of Management, and echoed the sentiments of the former speakers who had adverted to Mr. Rogers's restored health as of immense significance to the future of the institution. (Applause.)
In responding, the Chairman said that it was quite true that he had taken a deep interest in the institution, and he only hoped that some younger man with more time at his command would take his place. (No, no.) He should most thankfully stand by such a one.
The proceedings then terminated.
Source: Birmingham Daily Post 7/4/1885