Our subscription for a hundred volumes through Messrs. W. 

 H. Smith and Sons is an unqualified success. By this means we are 

 enabled to see new books at onoe, and to judge whether they are 

 worthy of a permanent place on our shelves. In other years we 

 have had to wait for expensive works of Biography and Travel, and 

 often when purchased at a reduced rate, their interest was found 

 to be only transient, and in after years they merely cumbered the 

 shelves. The addition of these books adds much to the usefulness 

 of the Libirary, and is much appreciated by the borrowers. 



As to the Newsrooms, I have nothing to add to my remarks in 

 former years. They are well used, and there is little to oomplairx 

 of in the behaviour of those who use them. 



The Museum is now practically completed, and I believe is fully 

 appreciated, and the number who visit it for pui-poses of study con- 

 tinues to increase. Classe'S from the various elementary schools 

 come pretty frequently, and to these and to all visitors, I am al- 

 ways pleased to give any information that lies in my power. The 

 year has been marked by some splendid donations, of which a full 

 list appears elsewhere, the objects given by the Spencer Trustees, 

 Captain Rickards, Captain a-ud Mrs. Power being of a specially 

 attractive character, while those by Mr. Seton-Kerr form a valuable 

 addition to our small collection of prehistoric remains. 



The Art Gallery, although crippled by want of room, continues 

 to pro.sper. There were nearly forty-two thousand visitors during 

 the year, and our own permanent collection during the Summer 

 months was visited by nearly thirteen thousand. I believe that 

 our Loan Exhibitions steadily improve in charaeter, and in the 

 Exhibition now open we have one of the best ever held in tEe 

 Gallery. Dr. Curgenven on leaving the town, left us a very nice 

 oil painting, and Sir Edwin Ann has placed the Gallery under 

 fui'ther obligation to him by his gift of Mercier's "Maundy 

 Thursday," a very fine picture, which cannot fail to grow in 

 interest. 



