APPENDIX — REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 1 I i 



names are entered, and as many as fifty persons (in this case mostly 

 school children) have examined the collections in a single afternoon. 

 No better argument for the continuance of the plan of more frequently 

 opening the museum to the public could be produced. The conversazione 

 held on the evening of June 29th, in honor of the members of the 

 Teachers' Institute, was a very pleasant affair, in spite of the fact that 

 the rooms were somewhat crowded. Addresses were delivered by His 

 Honor the Lieutenant Governor, His Worship Mayor Sears, and others, 

 after which the guests circulated through the museum, finding much 

 that was interesting and curious. 



By the generosity of a well-known citizen the Society was enabled 

 to offer prizes for the best collections of insects, weeds and fungi. 

 Circulars setting forth the conditions of the competitions were distri- 

 buted throughout the province. Prizes were awarded for six collec- 

 tions, — four for insects, two for weeds. 



Such competitions we believe to be very useful in stimulating the 

 study of natural history, and we trust that we may again be permitted 

 to offer such inducements to the young naturalists of our province. 



At the request of the Exhibition Association the Society occupied 

 considerable space alongside of the exhibit of the Provincial Govern- 

 ment. The prize collections of plants were displayed on this occasion, 

 together with a lot of ores and other minerals and constituted an 

 attractive feature of the fair. 



The Committee on Economics has continued to urge upon the 

 Dominion Government the desirability of erecting a plant for the 

 creosoting of timber at St. John. We believe that the government is 

 alive to the wisdom of such a course, and hope that they will soon 

 take steps in the matter. 



Our thanks are due to the editors of the daily papers of St. John 

 for the free insertion of notices and reports of meeting, and to the 

 ladies and gentlemen who contributed to the various courses of lectures. 



In the past year the Society has gained in membership, the lecture 



courses have been more varied and extensive, the additions to the 



museum and library have been important, and many hundi'ed visitors 



have been attracted to the museum, including many of our young 



people, in some of whom has doubtless been awakened an interest in 



natural history, and from whom the ranks of our Society may in the 



future be recruited. Respectfully submitted, 



PERCY G. HALL, 



Natural History Rooms, Market Building, Secretary to Council. 



January 17th, 1899. 



