218 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



accessible to students and schools for teaching purposes, on appli- 

 cation being made to me. The total number of visitors recorded 

 was 166,676, showing an increase of 48,749 for the year. The 

 average was 469 (325 the previous year) on week-days, and 

 834 (601 the previous year) on Sundays. The largest attendance 

 on any one day occurred during the Commonwealth celebrations, 

 on the 2nd January, when 2,142 persons entered the building; 

 and on the 28th May, during the visit of the T.R.H. the Duke 

 and Duchess of Cornwall and York, 2,043 persons entered ; but 

 this is not equal to the number on Eight Hours' Day, 1st October, 

 1900, when 2,291 persons entered. The large increase mentioned 

 was no doubt due to the influx of visitors during both of these 

 holiday times. 



Commonwealth Festivities. 



On the occasion of the festivities at the beginning of the year, 

 in connection with the inauguration of the Commonwealth of 

 Australia, the Museum was entirely closed to the public on one 

 day, during which the official procession passed the building. The 

 Trustees oftered the use of the ground attached to the private 

 entrance to the Government for the erection of a grandstand. 

 This offer was accepted, and the space was let by the Government 

 to a contractor, the rent being afterwards repaid to the Trustees. 

 The latter were accommodated with seats by the lessee, and the 

 Museum officials and their friends were similarly provided on the 

 large expanse of Museum roof. The arrangements made appeared 

 to give general satisfaction, notwithstanding that upwards of nine 

 hundred visitors were provided for, due in a great measure to the 

 close attention paid to their duties by the Museum Special 

 Constables, who were in charge of the proceedings. By the 

 courtesy of the Government, a military band was placed within 

 the enclosure and contributed to the general enjoyment. The 

 building was illuminated at night during the entire festival week, 

 when a portion of the Museum Fire Brigade was constantly on 

 duty, under the control of a member of the Metropolitan Fire 

 Brigade. 



The Museum was again closed for a portion of the day on 

 which T.R.H. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York were 

 welcomed to Sydney, the procession again passing the premises. 

 An improvised stand for the Museum Staff and their friends was 

 erected by our own mechanics. 



Museum Staff. 

 Dr. Thomas Cooksey's term of service as Consulting Mineralogist 

 having expired, it was determined to fill the vacancy by a direct 

 appointment. The Trustees selected Mr. Charles Anderson, m.a,, 

 B.So. {Edin.), of Ben Nevis Observatory, from a large number of 

 applicants, to take up the duties of Mineralogist and Chemist 

 .Mr. Anderson commenced his duties on 22nd July. 



