and the deepening of the areas, the whole of the drainage has been 

 remodelled and relaid. The work on the roof has been hindered by 

 the persistent bad weather and by the impossibility of proceeding 

 without risk of injury to those engaged on the foundations. 

 All this work has entailed serious cost to the Committee, but by 

 spreading out the amount over several years and the exercise of 

 strict economy in the purchase of books and other matters, the Com- 

 mittee hope to pay off the cost without asking the Council for 

 additional financial help. Their best efforts will be directed to this 

 end, although they are quite sure the Council would not wish to see 

 the educational value of the Institution impaired by lack of funds. 



The Committee, in common with the rest of the town, sustained 

 a severe loss in July last, through the death of their respected 

 Chairman, Alderman George Bottomley, and their sense of that loss 

 is thus recorded on their minutes. 



" Resolved that the memhors of the Free LH>rm^y Committee 

 desire to place on record their sense of the heavy loss they 

 have sustained hy the death of their late colleague. Alderman 

 George Bottomley, J. P., who for tiventy years had been a 

 member of the Committee, and for the last ten years its 

 Chairman. His devotion to his duties, and his intelligent 

 grasp of them, alivays ivon their 7-es/ject ,- while his unfail- 

 ing tact, gentleness, and courtesy secured their affectionate 

 regard. They desire also to tender to his siirr(nving family 

 their sincerest sympathy in the bereavement which has so 

 suddenly overtaken them.'''' 



In conclusion, the Committee desire to express their best thanks 

 to all the Donors of Books, Magazines, and Museum objects during 

 the past year ; and also to Major Phelps and Captain E. Sidney 

 Woodiwiss for their loan of a case of objects connected with the late 

 war in South Africa, in which visitors to the Museum have taken 

 great interest. The Committee also gladly bear witness to the 

 excellent and painstaking work done in all departments by Mr. 

 Crowther and his staff. 



On behalf of the Committee, 



EDWIN T. ANN, 



Chairman. 

 October 29th, 1903. 



