206 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Hamilton Merritt, Chairman ; Alexander Macnabb, Vice-Chairman ; Archi- 

 bald Blue, Secretary ; George T. B. Ives, Assistant Curator. Messrs. Boyle, 

 Dobson, Xotman, Phipps and Dr. Bryce, Executi^'e Committee. 



The first regular monthly meeting of the Section was held on Thursday 

 evening, 5th iust., at which the Chairman gave his inaugural address. 'J'he 

 Section is composed of 15 members. 



Your obedient servant, 



A. Blue, Secretary. 

 Al.vn Macdougall, Esq., 



Secretary Canadian Institute. 



The President read the 38th Annual Report. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE 

 CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



SESSION 1886-87. 



The Council of the Canadian Institute have the honor to lay before 

 the members theii- thirty-eightli Annual Report. 



During the past session twenty-six meetings, including the annual 

 conversazione, have been held, at which forty-nine papei-s have been 

 read, in addition to twenty-three read at section meetings. Tliis 

 number is largely in excess of that of any previous year in tlie history 

 of the Institute. The character of these communications is fully 

 equal to the standard of previous years, and the range of subjects (as 

 shown in the appendix) is unprecedently large. Tlie average attend- 

 ance at the regular weekly meetings also shows a considerable and 

 steady increase. 



The distinguishing feature of the year has been the successful 

 establishment of no less than four new sections, in addition to the 

 Biological section, incorporated at the end of last session, viz.: (1) A 

 Photographic section; (2) an Architectural section ; (3) a Philologi- 

 cal section and (4) a Geological and Mining section. The creation of 

 these sections has extended the benefits of the Institute to new classes 

 of the citizens, and has been the chief cause of tlie large increase of 

 membership. Their annual reports, which are appended, show a 

 gratifying spirit of activity in every branch of the Institute. 



A further evidence of tiiis increased activity is seen in the number 

 of memorials presented to the Provincial Government, with success- 

 full results in many cases, as follows: In February last the Committee 

 of Ways and Means waited on the Minister of Education and urged him 



