46 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ Vou. ie 
and associate. The former is an old class revived, on lines likely to 
promote interest in the Institute. The latter is a new class, which has 
very wide limits, created for the purpose of enlisting the co-operation of 
many who, not sufficiently advanced in science to be interested in all the 
work of the Institute, are earnest workers in such subjects as history, 
archeology, geology, botany, political and economic science. 
The small fee of $2 per annum will enable many to join, and take 
advantage of the liberal privileges extended to this class. 
The rules of the library and reading room have also been amended. 
The new rules came into force on the Ist of February and have since 
that date been carried out to the advantage of the members. 
The interest in the work of the sections increases. 
The Biological or Natural History Section has held 15 meetings, at 
which 15 papers were read. The field days have been as successful as 
formerly, and the work of the sub-sections has been vigorously carried on. 
The Historical Section has increased its membership from 27 to 45. 
Six meetings were held during the session ; all were well attended ; six 
papers were read. The Section makes special note of the increasing 
interest in historical matters, both in the Institute and by the general 
public, and expresses satisfaction at the steps taken by the government 
towards the establishment of a natioual park. 
The Mining and Geological Section held three meetings at which a like 
number of papers were read. The membership has not increased, though 
they look for an increase in the immediate future. 
Early in the summer of last year, a movement was inaugurated to con- 
sider the most advantageous scheme for enlarging the scope of the Insti- 
tute, and the advisability of removing to a more central and readily 
accessible situation. Iwo plans were presented: one embraced the 
enlargement of the present building by adding a museum on the vacant 
portion of our lot, and remodelling the present reading room and library ; 
the other contemplated the removal of the Institute from the present site 
to one in a more northern or up-town district. After several meetings 
had been held, at which the projects were fully discussed, the members 
at a special General Meeting called for the purpose on the 19th June, 
1891, vetoed all the proposals laid before them. 
The adoption of cosmic time, in relation to the use of the 24-hour 
notation, has been greatly advanced by the labors of a special committee 
of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the chairman of which was 
our distinguished honorary member, Sandford Fleming, LL.D., C.M.G. 
