APPENDIX 



REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE ACQUISITION OF THE 



NEW ROOMS, 



Read Sth January, 1SS6. 



At a special meeting of the Society, held on the 22d May, 1885, it was 

 unanimously agreed to proceed with the scheme for acquiring the occupancy 

 of the Presbytery House on lease for a term of years. A sub-committee, 

 consisting of Dr Gilchrist, and Messrs Starke, Barbour, Lennox, Watson, 

 and Wilson, was then appointed with full power on behalf of the Society, to 

 make and complete the necessary arrangements, provided they should first 

 obtain the promise of £60 towards the expense to be incurred before 

 commencing operations. 



Since that date your sub-committee have met frequently, and, as arrange- 

 ments had to be made between the Synod, Presbytery, Kirk-Session, 

 and Town Council of Dumfries, their completion has been naturally 

 tedious. 



We now beg to report that we have entered into an agreement with all 

 the parties interested in the Presbytery House, and that the document has 

 been duly signed by Mr Starke on behalf of this Society, and by represen- 

 tatives of the different Ijodies already- mentioned. 



To give the minute of agreement liere would occupy too much space, but 

 it is copied in full in the minute book, and the following points form a 

 resume of it : — It is agreed that this Society have the free use and occu- 

 pancy of the Presbytery House for fifteen years from Whitsunday, 1885, 

 at the nominal rent of two shillings and sixpence per annum. The Synod, 

 Presbytery, and Kirk-Session have the right to the use of the building for 

 their meetings as heretofore ; and neither of the parties to the agreement 

 has the privilege of sub-letting the building. The repairs and furnishings 

 have been made at this Society's expense. The Presbytery has the power 

 of terminating the lease on giving notice in writing, provided that the 

 Presbytery pays to the Society a sum equivalent to all the expenses 

 incurred by the Society on the building and during the term of occupancy, 

 less five per cent, per annum for depreciation. In the event of the Society 

 vacating the building, one table and forty-two chairs are to be left, and 

 these then become the Presbytery's property. 



When the sub-committee was appointed their first object was to ascer- 

 tain the probable cost of repairing the building, and subsequently to be 

 guided in the furnishings as funds permitted. Mr Barbour gave a detailed 

 estimate of the repairs needed, showing that £60 were at least required 

 for the fabric, and the furnishings would have to be provided extra. This 

 seemed like throwing cold water on the scheme, but it was soon dispelled 

 l)y the enthusiasm of the oldest and most energetic members of the Society, 

 including our late President — Dr Gilchrist — whose death we now so 

 ileeply mourn. 



