——— 
? baie = 
41 
The Prustpent said that the Committee had under their con- 
sideration the best means of using the accumulated funds of the 
Club for the benefit of the present as well as of the future members. 
The Committee considered that while they ought to keep in hand 
a balance sufficient to meet all contingencies, it was only fair that 
the present members and subscribers should have full value for their 
subscriptions. ‘The Committee had therefore proposed to engage a 
paid lecturer, Professor Morris, than whom no man was a better 
geologist. ‘I'he hall would be engaged for the delivery of the 
lectures, and members would have the privilege of introducing four 
or more friends—ladies or gentlemen—gratuitously. He hoped 
this arrangement would infuse new life into the Club, and give it a 
fresh start altogether. (Applause.) 
Mr. Lee then announced that the annual meeting of the Club 
would be held on the third Wednesday in January, when no paper 
would be read, but the officers for the ensuing year would be elected. 
He therefore called upon the Club to nominate the officers for 
election at the next meeting. 
The President, Treasurer, and Secretary were at once nomi- 
nated for re-election; and Mr. Lex said he had some thoughts 
of retirmg from the position of President, but as there was to be 
an invigorating movement in the Club, and as he had received a 
strong request that he should continue to be the President, he 
had consented to retain that position—(Hear, hear)—and he was 
authorised by the Secretary and Treasurer to state that they would 
be happy to serve during the ensuing year. (Applause.) 
Mr. Brodie and Mr. A. D. Taylor having been appointed as 
auditors, the present Committee were nominated for re-election, 
the Presipent remarking that some of them were ready to give 
way in favour of any other gentlemen who might be proposed. 
No fresh names, however, were submitted, the prevailing opinion 
being that the present Committee had discharged their duty in such 
an exemplary manner that it was unnecessary to infuse any ‘‘ new 
pblood”’ into that painstaking body. 
The President then called upon his friend, Captain Tyler, to 
deliver a lecture on ‘‘ Sponges,” and expressed his regret that the 
state of the weather had so much diminished the attendance. 
Captain TyLeEr—after intimating that he wished his remarks to 
be divested of the formalities of a lecture, and to partake rather of 
a conversation—said that ‘“‘ sponges’’ was a subject but little 
known, except to a comparatively small number of persons, and 
yet it was a subject that had held a position of great importance as 
Petied the structure of the globe we inhabited. After explaining 
_that there was an affinity between the sponge, the gorgonia, and the 
