, curiously, originated from dissension in Parliament,
a remarkable illustration of the old adage, "'Tis an ill wind that blows
no one any good." In the year 1890 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in
Lord Salisbury's ministry, {113a} introduced what was called "The Local
Taxation (customs and excise) Bill," {113b} intended to empower County
Councils to buy up the licences of superfluous public houses, and to
compensate the publicans by grants of money. The funds for this purpose
were not to be a charge upon the local rates, but to be provided by an
increase of the duty on spirituous liquors. Strange to say, this measure
was so persistently opposed by the temperance party, aided by others, who
for the moment acted with them, that the proposed use of the money, thus
raised, was at length abandoned, a considerable surplus, however, being
thus at the Chancellor's disposal, after the reduction of several other
taxes, the remainder was handed over to the County Councils, to be
employed in the furtherance of technical education. The money thus set
apart was called "the ear-marked money," and the measure enacting it was,
somewhat unworthily, termed "The Whiskey Bill." Horncastle benefitted by
a sum being placed to the credit of the local authorities for the
establishment of a school of science and art; all such institutions in
the county being under the general direction of the organizing secretary,
Mr. S. Maudson Grant, residing in Lincoln.

[Picture: St. Mary's Square]

At first classes were held in the Masonic Hall, Bank Street; and in 1891
an efficient teacher, Mr. Mallet, was engaged to give commercial
instruction in arithmetic, shorthand, &c., {114a} and he was very
successful in getting pupils. In 1892 larger accommodation was required,
and two rooms were rented, over what is now the Bicycle Depot of Mr.
Sorfleet, at 14, East Street; and Mr. Switzer was engaged as teacher of
science and art, at a salary of 100 pounds a year, being allowed further
to augment his income by taking private pupils in certain other subjects.
About the same time 100 pounds was spent on models, and other requisites;
and by the close of 1892, Tetford, Wragby, and Woodhall Spa having been
included in a general scheme for the district, it was found that the
pupils attending the classes already numbered 219; of whom 76 were under
Mr. Mallet's instruction, 101 under Mr. Switzer, including 39 school
teachers in the neighbou