No. 6.j NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 381 



order, and various other small but necessary repairs have been 

 effected. 



Out of the $750 received from the local legislature, $500 

 have been devoted to paying off a portion of the Society's in- 

 debtedness, and the debt previously existing upon its building 

 has been thus reduced to $500. 



The lecture room, librarv and committee room have been 

 rented to Mr. T. M. Taylor, to the Medico-Chirurgical, Horti- 

 cultural, Numismatic and Philharmonic Societies, at regular 

 intervals, and the proceeds accruing therefrom, amounting to 

 $461, will be found credited by the Treasurer in his report to 

 be submitted this evenins;. 



After mature consideratioo, but with much regret, your 

 Council decided to termioate Mr. Passmore's engagement, as 

 cabinet keeper and taxidermist to the Society, on the first of 

 May, 1880 ; and this action of the Council having been duly 

 endorsed at one of the monthly meetings, notice of the termin- 

 ation of the said engagement was given to Mr. Passmore, in 

 writing, early in February. In consideration, however, of his 

 long and valuable services, your Council has recommended that 

 a gratuity of $200, (a sum equal to one years salary in advance) 

 be paid to Mr. Passmore on his leaving, and this recommendation 

 has been adopted by the Society. 



Since the first of May, your Council has temporarily employed 

 Mr. Potts as resident janitor, cabinet keeper, and custodian of 

 the premises, leaving it to their successors in ofiice to take such 

 action as they may see fit, in reference to filling the situation 

 formerly held by Mr. Passmore. 



The number of donations to the Museum, during the past 

 session, has been unusually small, an evil which can best be 

 remedied by the active personal efforts of individual members 

 of the Society. 



Thanks to the diligence of our Treasurer, the financial 

 position of the Society, during the past twelve months, may be 

 looked upon as eminently satisfactory. 



In retiring from office your Council venture to offer the fol- 

 lowing brief suggestions to their successors : 



1. That special and vigorous efforts be made to improve the 

 collections in the Museum, and more particularly to obtaining 

 new and choice specimens of Canadian mammals and birds. 



