:28 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



Mr Martin, yr. of Axichendenan, secondeu the motion. He thought that if they were 

 able to give L.5,000 for a new hall, they could continue to give the Transactions free to 

 members. 



Provost Duncan, Rothesay, thought the Transactions should be sent to all mem- 

 bers of the Society who paid their .subscription. There, were many of the poorer 

 -and more backward members who would not think of sending ibr the volume, and 

 would yet be glad to get it. It would he much valued in the country, where books 

 were few enough, and so tend to popularise the Society, as well as to increase its re- 

 sources. 



Mr Milne Home of Wedderburn said that he agreed with his brother Directors on 

 this question, although he had differed with them on other matters. The committee 

 appointed to ascertain how the expenditure of the Society could be economised and the 

 funds liberated for other purposes, found that there were L.-131 a-year being spent on 

 the Transactions, and they recommended that they should be reduced to L.200 or 

 L.250. The Directors approved of the report, and submitted it to the General Meeting 

 in January 1875, which also approved of it. Again, at.the last General Meeting in 

 June 1875, Mr Irvine of Drum stated that if no objection was taken the free distribu- 

 tion of these Transactions would cease from that time or shortly after. No objection 

 was taken, so that they would reipiire to proceed with considerable caution in a pro- 

 posal to upset the opinion of the Directors and two General xMeelings. Their object was 

 to apply these funds to greater purpose— such as the establishment of experimental 

 .stations, bursaries for education, and other things— than the distribution of the Trans- 

 actions, which contained no original papers, but merely reprints of essays which re- 

 ceived premiums, and proceedings of the Society. If there was any value in these 

 Transactions, those who^got them should not grudge the 2s.6d. which they|cost, especially 

 when they saw tliat it put the Society in possession of L.'250 additional income. 



Mr M'Lagan of Pumpherston, m!P., said that this was one of the few societies in 

 the country that compelled its members to pay for a copy of their own Transactions. 

 The societies of England and Scotland all distributed these gi-atuitously to their mem- 

 bers, and he did not see that the members of the Highland and Agricultural Society 

 of Scotland should be put to a disadvantage as compared with the members of the 

 Eoyal Agricultural Society of England, and compelled to pay for their Transactions. 



Colonel Innes of Learney pointed out that this was not a recommendation of the 

 Directors that was dealt with. What they were really wanted to do was to rescind a 

 resolution of last General Meeting. The Directors were by no means unanimous on the 

 matter. 



The Duke of Buccleuch also called attention to the fact that tliere was an error in 

 the motion. They might rescind their own decision on any matter, but they could not 

 rescind a recommendation of the Directors or a committee. 



The resolution was then put as follows, and carried by a large majority: — "That 

 the resolution of the General Meeting in January last, relating to the discontinuance 

 of the free issue of the Transactions to members, be rescinded, and that the gratis 

 issue to members on application be continued." 



The Secretary saicl that in conficquence of the decision of tliis meeting he had to 

 intimate— (1) That the volume will be sent to all members who hitherto have received 

 it without further application ; (2) That it will be sent to those, who have for the first 

 time made application by returning the recent circular ; (3) That those members who 

 liave paid for the volume will immediately receive back the amount in postage stamps ; 

 (4) That all members who have never made application for the Transactions at all will 

 receive the volume if they apply before 1st February ; (5) That liack numbers or 

 volumes will be supplied to members on application to Messrs William Blackwood & 

 Sons, 45 George Street, Edinburgh, at the following rates: — Fourth Series, 1866-71, 

 six numbers, 4s. each ; 1872-75, four volumes, 5s. each. 



Mr Irvine of Drum reported that volume viii. of the Transactions was partly in type, 

 and that as many of the prize essays which will be announceil to-day will be included 

 as, with the proceedmgs and premium list for 1876, will make the volume the usual 

 size. 



The Chejiical Department.— Mr Mackenzie of Portmore, in the absence of Sir 

 Thomas Hepburn, read the report of the Directors on this department, which is given 

 in the Report of the Directors' Meeting of 5th January 1866. He remarked that a 

 great deal of acerbity had lieen introduced into this matter, and much had been said 

 out of doors about the propriety or impropriety of the steps they were now taking. 

 He begged to assure the meeting that whatever the Society, after mature deliberation, 

 entrusted to the Directors, they would loyally carry'out ; and it was only after anxious 

 consideration that they had come before the Society and again asked it to reconsider 

 its decision. He concluded by moving that the meeting authorise the Directors to 

 organise such experimental stations as they may find practicable with the funds at 

 their disposal, and appoint a properly qualified chemist as an officer of the Society. 



Professor Balfour seconded the jmotion. They could not get on well, he said. 



