APPENDIX D CXIII 



Seven meetings were held from October to May, and the following 

 original papers read : 



" A AVife's Devotion/' a Niagara heroine of 1837, by the President. 



" Value of an Historical Eoom," by Eev. J. C. Garrett. 



" Two days in Quebec in 1838 and a day at the Falls in 1860 on the 



occasioii of the King's visit," by W. Kirby, F.E.S.C. 

 "The Vicissitudes of the Niagara Library for Fifty Years," by the 



President. 



The number of members has slightly increased, numbering over 

 fifty, more than half non-resident. We have published during the year 

 No. 9 Diary of W. H. Merritt, Journal of Col. Glaus and letters of 

 Ghief Norton, by Gol. E. Gruikshank, and No. 10, Inscriptions and 

 graves in the Niagara Peninsula by the President. 



During the year a visit was paid to our Historical Eoom by permis- 

 sion of the Minister of Education by Mr. David Boyle, Superintendent 

 of Educational Museum, who gave many valuable hints and much help 

 in classification. His report speaks of the great value of our collection 

 and the impossibility were it destroyed of duplicating the articles, em- 

 phasizing strongly the necessity of a good building, fire-proof, and easily 

 accessible for a collection which is now of provincial value. On the 17th 

 September, we paid our usual visit to the grave yards of the town as well 

 as Butler's to decorate the graves. Our collection is increasing, the room 

 is open weekly and during the summer months, sometimes daily. Several 

 interesting photographs of groups of articles were taken by Mr. Walker 

 and ^Mr. Sherk, of Toronto. Many letters have been received asking 

 information which we have frequently been able to give from our papers, 

 documents, etc. 



A tablet was placed on the Court House showing that it was built 

 in 1847 for the United Counties of Lincoln, Welland and Haldimand. 



We exchange with twenty societies and have distributed six hundred 

 of our publications during the year. In closing we would refer to the 

 condition of the Military Eeserves in Niagara. While Queenston Heights 

 and Fort Erie have been placed in the hands of the Niagara Falls Park 

 Commissioners for beautifying and preservation, we feel that the same 

 is necessary with regard to Fort George, Navy Hall and Fort Mississagua, 

 where soldiers of the King lie buried, where the first Parliament was 

 held and the slave made free ; all lie neglected and falling to decay, other 

 buildings have been burned, notably the Military Hospital and Com- 

 mandant's House. Navy Hall Inn destroyed. Powder Magazine in 

 ruins, log buildings of Fort Mississagua removed, Navy Hall falling to 

 pieces. It is earnestly hoped that all will unite to preserve what we have 



Proc. 1903. 8. 



