additional half-penny rate to pay for this extra expenditure. This will 

 enable the work of the Institution to go on as usual, without the 

 crippling influence of a heavy debt. In the future, as in the past, the 

 Committee will use its best endeavours to carry on the work of the 

 Library and Museum as economically as possible. 



A small outbreak of fire took place in the waste paper room during 

 the night of September 8th. No serious damage was done, and the fire 

 was extinguished with our own appliances. Both Fire Brigade and 

 Police rendered efficient help. The cause has never been satisfactorily 

 traced. 



The matter of the fusion of this Committee and that of the Art 

 Gallery is fully referred to in the Art Gallery Report. This Committee 

 is heartily in agreement with the course recommended there, the 

 adoption of the Museums Act. 



In concluding this report, the Committee have once more to thank 

 the donors of Books, Magazines, and Museum Specimens, and to bear 

 witness to the excellent work done in every department by the Chief 

 Librarian, Mr. Crowther, and his staff. 



On behalf of the Committee, 



EDWIN T. ANN, 



Chairman. 



October 2.']th, 1904. 



