XCviii PROCEEDINGS. 



by prompt publication, for facts known to the individual are buried 

 unless made public. 



As Dr. Patterson died during the recess of the Institute, I took upon 

 myself as expressing the feelings of the members to request the Corres- 

 ponding Secretary to convey to the family of the deceased our sympathy 

 with them in their loss, and asked him to represent the Institute at 

 the funeral. 



Among the events of interest to the Institute last year may be 

 mentioned the visit of the Koyal Society. They left, as a memento, the 

 handsome tablet on the walls of this Chamber, commemorating the land- 

 fall of Cabot. The result of impartial investigations leads to an apparently 

 well founded belief that the history of English domain on this continent 

 had its opening page on the romantic shores of Cape Breton. 



The Provincial Exhibition, from the standpoint of this Institute, was 

 remarkable for what it did not exhibit. Advantage should be taken of 

 such occasions by the Provincial Government to teach people something 

 new and practically valuable. Each year some subject should be taken 

 up and illustrated. A display of insects injurious to the farmer or fruit- 

 grower, giving their life history, changes, food, etc., and the remedies 

 would serve for a number of teaching exhibits. In a similar manner the 

 subject of soils, fertilizers, etc. The more advanced systems of fishing, 

 curing fish, etc., in other countries. Every one can add to this list. I 

 believe that the Provincial Government would find their efforts in these 

 directions well appreciated, and the material in many instances would be 

 permanently available for their agricultural schools and for museums- 

 This matter may be worth your consideration, and you may see an oppor- 

 tunity to offer assistance to the Government in preparing and advancing 

 such exhibits. 



These remarks on the Provincial Exhibition of a few days lead our 

 thoughts to our permanent Provincial Exhibition, the Museum. It may 

 be the case that Nova Scotians as a body retain the old fashioned idea 

 that a museum should be a collection of curiosities. If so, it is the duty 

 of the Institute to educate them, to a better understanding. As you are 

 aware, several representations have been made to the Government as to 

 the importance of a modern museum, and its value from an educational 

 as well as an economic standpoint. I think that the necessity of action 

 has been conceded by the Government, but the provision from a fixed 

 r evenue for ever increasing public wants renders it difficult to provide 

 funds for a new building. 



