[From ManxNoteBook vol i,1885]

AGRICULTURAL.–The year has been a very disappointing and a decidedly unremunerative one. A dry parching spring made the hay and straw, as well as the root crops, very light. The rain in July came too late for the hay, but greatly benefited the turnips, which have turned out very much better than could have been expected. The harvest was well saved in beautiful weather, but has proved scarcely up to the average, as the straw is so short. Wheat was the best crop, oats the worst. Both grain and live stock of all kinds are low in price.–The annual show of the Isle of Mann Agricultural Society, held at Milntown on the 8th of August, was a very successful one. The number of entries, 468, is the largest on record, and the gate money, £168 11S., has only been surpassed in 1873, when £173 was received.

ARCHITECTURAL–The New School of Art, recently erected on the Finch Hill Estate, belonging to Mr. Philip Christian, is a Gothic structure, composed of local stone, with red sand-stone dressings, and forms a portion of the contemplated design for a School of Art, a Public Reading Room, and a Museum. Mr. Christian has not only most liberally presented the ground on which the building stands, but has originated and executed the able and cleverly adjusted design, in which the School of Art building, from an architectural point of view, occupies but a minor place. On approaching the building, one is at once struck with the apparently immense proportions of the northern windows, which are, nevertheless, in height carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Science and Art Department. The mullions and transomes also have purposely been made slender, so as not to obstruct the light, so necessary in art studies. The interior consists of one large room, 56 ft. x 28 ft., and proportionately lofty, which has a remarkably cheerful and comfortable appearance, Well lighted, well ventilated, and sufficiently heated, it affords the students every facility for conducting their work with comfort and success. The school was opened by Lady Loch on the 17th of April, 1884. –The New Church at Peel is cruciform, with a tower and spire at the N.W. corner. The design is a free treatment of the early decorated style. The beautiful material, red sandstone, of which it is built, adds greatly to its appearance. The handsome tower and spire were erected in memory of Mrs. Rowley Hill by the Lord Bishop, to whose unceasing exertions the existence of the church is mainly due. The peal of bells (eight), and all the principal fittings, were presented by inhabitants of Peel. The church was opened on the 26th August by his Grace the Archbishop of York (Dr. Thomson) who, after the service, proceeded to lay the foundation-stone of the "Isle of Mann Navigation, Grammar, and Mathematical School" on a site just to the north of the church.

ANTIQUARIAN.*–At the N.E. corner of Maughold Church-yard, the Rev. S. N. Harrison has traced out the boundary of an ancient cemetery with a small chapel enclosed, and on the S.E., a small building with a large well outside. Near the Church he found a gold coin of Louis le Debonnaire about 2 feet below the surface, close to the foundation of a dry stone wall, some 4 feet down – In some recent draining operations in connection with the hotel at Rushen Abbey, a considerable number of ornamental tiles were discovered, which evidently belonged to the old building. They are almost certainly of local manufacture, and, though they are made of coarse material, the designs are decidedly good, particularly one with an elaborate treatment of oak leaves and acorns.In the month of February last, an interesting discovery was made by Mr. Cain, of Ballakaighen, German, while engaged in draining –a canoe, 14 ft. long and 2 ft. 7 in. wide, formed from a solid trunk of oak. The upper part of the sides has decayed away, but the rest is hard and sound. It is to be hoped that this piece of ancient handiwork may be preserved for our future local Museum, and not be allowed to follow the lead of so many Manx antiquities by drifting across the water.

ARTISTIC.–Mr J. M. Nicholson had two charming water-colour drawings in the summer exhibition at the Grosvenor Gallery, the subjects being '` Fonts di Rialto" and "S. Maria delta Salute," both painted from sketches made when he visited Venice in April, 1882. Mr. J. H. E. Partington, of Manchester, now residing in Ramsey, has painted a variety of Manx subjects. "' A Ramsey Wrecker" depicts a handsome barefooted lass, with a bundle of wreckage in her arms, on Ramsey Shore, during a gale. This beautiful picture was painted in 1883, and first exhibited at Stockport, where it was purchased by Mr. Edwin Lawrence for £. Mr. Partington then kindly lent it to the Douglas School of Art for exhibition purposes, and finally sent it to the Royal Academy, where it vitas hung at this year's exhibition. The size of the canvas is 5 feet by 4 feet. " The Rescue," showing the Manchester Lifeboat The Two Sisters rescuing a schooner in Ramsey Bay, is now on exhibition at the Manchester Corporation Art Gallery. It is the most important picture in size and motive which Mr. Partington has painted. The figures of the crew of the lifeboat are full size.

Mrs J. W. Swinnerton, who exhibits under her maiden name of "Annie L. Robinson", had a small picture called " Danae" in the Royal Adademy. The Saturday Review, after speaking of it as a "clever and scholarly work," says `' it represents a young and beautiful country girl, wearing a sun-bonnet, and standing close in front of a bank, on which the furze is in full blow. The sunny effect, the light and shade, the depth and luminous quality of the shadows, and the charming expression of the face, raise this picture to a high level of merit." Mr. J. W. Swinnerton's chief sculptural works during the year have been (1):" The Victor," which was well exbibited in the Royal Academy. This is a male statue, of heroic size, representing a Greek warrior reaching out his right hand to receive the golden crown, while he rests his sword, which is held in the left hand, with its point on the ground; (2) a bronze bust of the late Mr. Beyer, ordered for the Victoria University, Manchester, by the governors; (3) a bronze bust of the late Mr. Baume, modelled from a cast taken after death.

LITERARY–The Gaelic Topography of Wales & the Isle of Mann, by Neil Mac Nish, B.D., LL. D., Cornwall. (From the proceedings Of the Canadian Institute, 1884.) The Statutes of the Isle of Mann, 1417-1824. Vol. I, " Edited by J. F. Gill, under the supervision of James Gell, Attorney-General." The most complete and by far the best arranged collection of the Statutes that has been published. The acts are all numbered, and laws expressly repealed, or temporary laws, are in small type. Short Stories, by Hugh Coleman Davidson. The following will be of interest to Manxmen: "Robin y Ree" and "Manx Smuggling," in All the Year Round: " Camping on the Calf of Mann," in Home Chimes: "A Ghost's Story," in Merry England. Pioneer Manxmen,* by W. S. Kerruish, Cleveland, Ohio. * The editor hopes Mr. Kerruish will permit him to re-produce his interesting paper in The Manx Note Book.

LEGISLATIVE.–The following Acts were promulgated on the 5th of July, 1884:–

"The Bills of Exchange Act, 1883,"
"The Companies' Act, 1884, "
"The Ecclesiastical Civil Judicature Transfer Act, 1884,"
"The Public Health Act, 1884,"
"The Elementary Education Act, 1884,"
"The Douglas Town Act, 1884,"
"The Ramsey Harbour and Town Act, 1884,"
"The Castletown Waterworks Act, 1884,"
"The Civil Registration Act, 1884."

MASONIC.–BY command of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Grand Master, Bro. Col. Shadwell H. Clerke, Grand Secretary. assisted by five other officers of the Grand Lodge, consecrated two craft lodges in Douglas, viz., the ," Ellan Vannin," 2049, on the 24th of October, and the ,"St. Trinion's," 2050, on the 26th. Bro. J. A. Brown, P.M., P.Z., was installed W.M. of the former, Bro. G. C. Heron, P.M., P.Z., of the latter. On the 30th October, Bro. H. J. Brearley, P.M., was installed W.M.M. of the ,"Peveril" Lodge of Mark Masons. Bro. Dr. J. W. Wood has been elected Z. of the "Athole" Chapter; Bro. J. Holden is W.M. elect of the ," Athole " Lodge, 1004, and Bro. J. F. Terry, of the " Tynwald " Lodge, 1242.

METEOROLOGICAL.–The summer season, which may, be considered to include the months of June, July, August, and September has, in 1884, been a remarkably fine one, as will be seen by a compassion of its Temperature and Rainfall with the previous 30 years. The average temperature of the above months in 1884, taking the mean observations at Cronkbourne, Peel, and Castletown, was 57°54, which has only been exceeded by three seasons during the past thirty, viz., 1868, 57°73; 1857, 57°70, and 1865, 57°65. There have been seven drier seasons during the same period, viz., 1865, 5·40 in.; 1857, 6·10 in.; 1870, 6·71in.; 1859, 7· 06 in.; 1855, 8·88 in.1868, 9·23 in.; 1873, 9·26 in.; 1884 having 9·47 in.

During the last 30 years–

It wll be noticed that 1884 does not appear in either extreme.

In comparing the three decades of '55-64, '65-74, and '75-84, we find the second period has an average temperature of 56°74, the first 56°79, and the third 55°62. In Rainfall, there is a greater difference, '55-64 having an average of 10.81 in.; '65-74, II 38 in.; and '75-84, 14.73 in. ⁺The Highest Shade Temperature recorded is 79°7 at Peel, on the 28th of June, 1884. * The returns for the last 30 years have been taken from the following series of Observations:–Temperature: Ballasalla, 1855-61, Point of Ayre, 1862-77, Cronkbourne, 1878-84. Rainfall: Ballasalla, 1855-61, Douglas, 1862-77, Cronkbourne, 1878-84. A complete summary of these had been prepared, but, unfortunately, want of space has prevented its being printed.

+ We cannot find that Maximum and Minimum Temperatures were recorded in the Isle of Mann before 1878, when they were commenced at Cronkbourne.

OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS.–Sir Henry Loch, K.C.B. (Lieut.-Governor of the Isle of Mann 1863-82), Lieut.-Governor of Victoria, 10th April, 1884. His Excellency, with Lady Loch and family, arrived at Melbourne on the 15th July. Addresses of welcome were presented by deputations representing the Manxmen in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. Mr. J. F. Gill, H.M.'s Second Deemster, on the 11th of January.Mr. S. Harris, High-Bailiff of Douglas, Vicar-General on the 23rd of February. Mr. W. S. Caine, M.P. for Scarborough, son of the late Nathaniel Caine, (a Manxman), one of the Civil Lords of the Admiralty in November.–Mr. J. C. Lamothe, High Bailiff of Ramsey, to be Secretary of the House of Keys, in December. Mr. A. N. Laughton, advocate, to be High-Bailiff of Peel, in December.

SCHOLASTIC.–The following high honors have been obtained by pupils of King William's College during the past year:– Mr. W. H. Bragg, scholar of Trinity College, third wrangler in the Mathematical Tripos, at Cambridge; Mr. S. A. Kermode, scholar of Queen's College, second class in the Classical Tripos, at Cambridge; Mr. T. F. Maddrell, scholar of Sydney Sussex College, second class in the Classical Tripos, at Cambridge; Mr. J. L.Walton, obtained honors for classical and general literature, in the final public examination at Durham; Mr. J. F. Brindle elected, before commencing residence, to the Abbot University Scholarship, value £60 per annum, for classics, at Oxford; Mr. M. Bellamy elected to a Goldsmith Exhibition for Divinity, Classics, and Mathematics, open to undergraduate members of the University of Cambridge; Mr. J. W. Bragg to the first open scholarship, value £60 per annum, for Mathematics, at Emmanuel College, Cambridge; Mr. C. T. Parez to the first open scholarship, value £60 per annum, for Mathematics, at Clare College, Cambridge; Mr. T. W. Eyre to the first (bracketed) open scholarship for Classics, Mathematics, at Magdalene College, Cambridge; Mr. J. F. Brindle to an open scholarship, value £50 per annum for five years, for classics, at Jesus College, Oxford; Mr. H. Crellin to an open scholarship for Mathematics, at Queen's College, Cambridge; Mr. H. F. Freeman, by examination, to a sizarship for classics, at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; Mr. C. B. Moffatt to a Steanie Exhibition, at Trinity College, Dublin, and has also had awarded to him the Silver Medal (1882) and the Gold Medal (1883) for Oratory.

Miss Ethel Moore has been elected to a scholarship, value £35, and an Exhibition, £15 15s., at Newnham Hall, Cambridge, for distinguished success in the Higher Local Examination in Groups A, (English language and literature); B. (French and German), and H. (History). In April, the Rev. John Quine, B.A., late Postmaster of Merton College, Oxon., and late Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Mann, was appointed Principal and Head Master of the Douglas Grammar School.

STATISTICAL.–The number of passengers conveyed to Douglas by the various Steampacket Companies during the past season has been the largest on record, viz., 178,323.

THE DIOCESAN CONFERENCE.–The fifth session was held on the 21st and 22nd of October. After an address from the Bishop, papers on " Religious Doubts and Difficulties, and how to deal with them," were read by the Rev. Dr. Hughes-Games, the Rev. A. A. Bridgman, and Mr. J. W. Clinch. On "Woman's Work in the Church," by the Rev. T. A. Taggart, Mr. G. A. Ring, and Dr. Wood; and, on " The Church in Relation to Local Charities, Home and Foreign Missions" by the Rev. G. Paton, the Rev. H. S. Gill, and Mr. A. N. Laughton. The following members were elected to represent the Diocese of Sodor and Mann on the " Central Council of Diocesan Conferences :"–Clerical: Revs. Dr. Hughes-Games, H. S. Gill, M.A., and Ernest B. Savage, M.A.; Lay: Sir James Gell, Messrs. C. Cannell, and A. N. Laughton.

THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CONVENTION was held on the 3rd of October. After an address from the president, the Rev. W. T. Radcliffe, papers were read by the Rev. J. S. Fordham on ," The Duties and Opportunities of Local Preachers, with special reference to preparation for the Pulpit" by the Rev. J. Fielden on " Preparation of the Heart and Life for the Work of Preaching the Gospel " by the Rev. W. Culyner on ," How to promote effective Revival Services," and by Mr. William Crennell, M.H.K., on "Methodism: Its Position and Duties."

* Detailed descriptions of the various discoveries under this heading will be given in future numbers.
+ A full description of this unique coin, together with an engraving, will be given in the and number of this Magazine, by kind permission of Dr. Jewitt.