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Hon. Treasurer — Mr. F. W. Gay. 



Hon. Secretary— Mr. J. E. Ingpen. 



Hon. Secretary for Foreign Correspondence— Mr. H. F. Hailes. 



Hon. Reporter- Mr. R. T. Lewis. 



Hon. Librarian — Mr. Alplieus Smith. 



Hon. Curator — Mr. Charles Emery. 



Mr. Wm. Goodwin expressed a desire that more facilities of access to the 

 books in the Library might bo afforded to members. It had no doubt 

 occurred to many members who desired information on a particular point, 

 that there was some difficulty in obtaining the literature on the subject, 

 which was often scattered about among the scientific periodicals, and he 

 thought that members might have more facilities for taking down and 

 examining the books in the library at the meetings of the Club. At present 

 no doubt the Librarian was strictly right in keeping the library closed, but 

 he thought more facilities might be given to members to refer to the books 

 themselves. 



The President was sure the Librarian would endeavour to meet the con- 

 venience of every one applying to him for books for temporary reference. 



The Secretary remarked that in other societies it had been found very in- 

 convenient for the library to be open, and members to take down books and 

 replace them, frequently in wrong places. The Librarian would, he was 

 sure, give every possible facility to members who wished to refer to the books 

 consistently with the proper regulation and care of the library. 



Mr. Watkins said he was afraid the suggestion he was about to make 

 would meet with even less favour than the previous one. He considered that 

 it would be a great convenience to many members if a plan could be adopted' 

 for circulating the unbound periodicals, such as serial works, which appeared 

 month by month, among such members as might desire to read them. 

 This was done in some other societies. A list of the members to whom the 

 journals were to be sent could be attached to the book, and each gentleman 

 on the list would read the book and pass it on to the next on the list, and the 

 last named member would return it to the Librarian. One of the first 

 objects of a library was to consult the convenience of the readers. He 

 considered it should not be looked upon solely with regard to the safety of 

 the books, which should be the duty and care of all the members. 



Mr. Waller suggested that the question must be left to the Committee. 



Mr. Hopkins observed that the Librarian already had plenty of work, and 

 suggested that he should be voted a salary before giving him more duties to 

 perform. 



The President spoke in complimentary terms of the excellent arrangement 

 of the library, and remarked that he did not think any salary would reward 

 the Librarian so well as the heartfelt approval of the members. 



The President then vacated the chair in favour of his successor, Dr. Cooke, 

 who was cordially received. 



Dr. Cooke said he thought he felt rather nervous, but the kind reception 

 he received led him to expect that the Club would have every consideration 

 for every mistake he might happen to make during the coming year. He 



