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material amendments. The principal reason for altering the then 
existing Rules, was to obtain the advantage of the Act 6 and 7 
Vict., cap. 36. The new Rules have been submitted to the 
Registrar, and approved of by him; so that the property of the 
Association now receives the full benefit of the relief which the 
legislature intended to confer on science by the passing of this Act. 
The insertion of Rules 5 and 7 isimportant. These Rules introduce 
two classes of members into the Association ; and while members 
retain all the original rights which membership conferred, the 
associate members have had some additional advantages granted 
to them in consideration of the increased subscription which they 
pay. Although these Rules were in force since the date of the 
General Meeting at which they were passed, in reality they did not 
come into operation until the 1st of January, 1879. A circular, 
with blank form attached, was. issued to all the members on the 
28th of December, 1878, requesting intending associate members 
to fill up the form and return it to the Secretaries. The response 
to this circular was very satisfactory; and the Committee have 
every reason to be highly gratified with the result. The Associate 
Members at present are 82 in number. 
The Conversazione, with which the Session commenced, was 
well attended, and showed most conclusively that the interest 
which the members and their friends have in the welfare of the 
Association has not diminished in the slightest degree. The 
meeting was held in the Town Hall, and the programme was 
successfully carried through. The President delivered an address, 
treating partly of the necessity of science being taught in our 
schools and educational colleges; and partly of some of the 
recent discoveries in science. The Vice-President gave a very 
successful illustration of the telephone and the microphone. Mr. 
J. M. K. Main also gave a short description of his patent safety 
cage, a working model of which was exhibited in the room. 
To the ladies who presided over the refreshment table, to the 
. other members and friends of the Association who kindly sent 
articles for exhibition, and to those who assisted in carrying out 
the programme, the success of the Conversazione is in a great 
measure due. 
