Natural History Society. 239 



GENERAL AFFAIRS OF THE SOCIETY. 



Twenty-eight ordinary members, a'nd six corresponding mem- 

 bers have been added to our number during the year. 



The usual petition to the Legislature having been prepared, and 

 the Recording Secretary having personally called on members of 

 the Government therewith, the Council have much pleasure in 

 reporting that the sum of ^$1,000 has been placed on the esti- 

 mates as the annual grant to the Society. 



The Treasurer's account appended to this report, shows a 

 most gratifying condition of the financial affairs of the Society. 

 The debt on the building has been reduced to an amount not 

 greater than that on the old building of the Society, the lia- 

 bilities having in the past year been reduced by $755.19. All 

 the minor accounts have been paid, and there is a prospect that 

 the Society may be able still further to reduce the permanent 

 debt, as well as to carry on its operations with increased vig- 

 our. 



For the better securing of this last object, the Council would 

 recommend, as necessary to the Society in its present stage of 

 advancement, and as warranted by its financial position, the ap- 

 pointment of some gentleman of scientific tastes and knowledge, 

 as Assistant Secretary and Curator, with a small salary. The 

 great services of Mr. D'Urban in this capacity, are fresh in the 

 memory of the Society, and there are now aniong our members, 

 several young naturalists of ability and high promise, who could 

 very much benefit the Society and the cause of science, if en- 

 abled in this way, to devote a part of their time to its interests. 

 It would be the duty of such an ofiicer to prepare the pro- 

 gramme of scientific business for each meeting, to write out the 

 proceedings in a form suitable for publication, to determine and 

 arrange specimens presented to the Society, to take measures for 

 the increase of the collection and library, and generally to work 

 out all the d(.'tails of our scientific operations, which are now 

 necessarily conducted in a very desultory manner. The Council 

 would ask authority from the Society, to engage some person of 

 the requisite zeal and scientific and business knowledge, as soon 

 as possible, and at a rate of remuneration such as the resources 

 of the Society could afi'ord. 



Signed, J. W. Dawson, 



Chairman of the Council, 



