I2 
That these regions are being trod by our young scientists 
is proved by the excellent displays of Native Plants and 
other exhibits made during the Spring, Summer, and Autumn 
months, in the Art Gallery of this building. The legacies 
left to the Society by the late MR. J. EYTON WILLIAMS and 
by the late MRS. GEORGE CHURTON will enable us to do still 
more in this direction. May more such legacies follow. 
In a wider sense we can almost claim to be pioneers in the 
encouragement of Nature Study amongst juniors throughout 
the County of Cheshire, and alsoin North Wales. By no less 
an authority than the head of the department of this branch 
of educational work at the Board of Education in London, we 
have been held up as a worthy example for other Societies to 
follow. This work has also, I know, been appreciated by 
many of the scholastic bodies throughout Cheshire and 
North Wales. 
A year ago I pleaded for the upholding and carrying on 
of the work begun here by Kingsley when he founded this 
Society, and I feel I cannot do better than repeat my pleadings 
uttered upon that occasion. I would ask you to remember 
the high ideals of our Founder. Think and ponder over the 
work of those who have been the corner-stones of this 
great Society: PROFESSOR MCKENNY HUGHES, the late 
DR. STOLTERFOTH, ALFRED O. WALKER, J. D. SIDDALL, 
GEORGE SHRUBSOLE, WM. SHONE, THOS. SHEPHEARD, 
ARTHUR FISH, ROBERT NEWSTEAD, and others, who have 
shown us such excellent examples in carrying on this work, 
and upholding the excellent traditions of this Society, of 
which we all feel so justly proud. 
In our last Annual Report, a brief refereuce was made to 
the proposed transfer of this building to the City Corporation, 
and in the very near future, on the 31st day of July, itis now 
proposed that this transfer will actually take place. This new 
departure is quite in keeping with modern ideas of Municipal 
Government, and will, I feel sure, be to our advantage as a 
Society, and at the same time prove to be a great gain for 
the Citizens of Chester. Although we are only one of several 
bodies who occupy this building, I believe I am right in 
stating that but for this Society the Grosvenor Museum 
might never have existed. I believe, I am right in saying 
that the classes and schools and building are the direct 
outcome of the classes established by the Natural Science 
Society in 1872, before the Museum was built. This Institution 
was once appropriately described by one who contributed 
largely to the cost of its building, and for a long time took 
a deep interest in all its work as a ‘‘ Local University 
successfully carried on without any cost tothe City.’’ Erected 
