16 



The list of Retiring Members has been posted in the 

 Library for the last three days, in accordance with No. 33 

 of the Rules of the Society. 



Finance. 



The income fi'om all the sources was as follows : — 

 Government grant-in-aid to Museum, £200 ; ditto to 

 Gardens, £600; Subscriptions, £150 ; from Marine Board, 

 £20 ; sale of Plants, &c., at Gardens, £98 175. 2c?. ; this, 

 with £30 125. in the hands of the Superintendent of the 

 Gardens, for weekly payment of men's wages, and arrears 

 of subscriptions, £50, will give a total of £1149 95. 2c?. 

 The expenditure and liabilities, as per balance sheet, 

 amounted to £1212 Is. 5c?., leaving a balance to debit of 

 £62 125. 3c?. It must, however, be specially noted that 

 this sum would have been reduced to a mere fraction had 

 all the annual subscriptions been duly paid. It is but fair 

 to add that the expenditure for the year, without considering 

 previous liabilities, has been kept within the income, as the 

 following figures will show: — Total income for 1878, 

 £1068 175. 2d.; expenditure, £1052 }2s.7d.; balance 

 towards meeting Habilities, £16 45. 7c?. 



Gardens. 



The new entrance, with suitable porter's lodge, has at 

 last been completed. This work adds largely to the 

 general appearance of the Gardens, and is found to be a 

 very great convenience to the public. The estimated 

 number of visitors, 58,784, is quite unprecedented, having 

 more than doubled within the last eight years. The proof 

 thus afforded of the increasing appreciation in which the 

 Gardens are held is highly satisfactory. 



The large amount of work in connection with the new 

 entrance has for some time past absorbed all available 

 labour, but now the Arboretum referred to in last year's 

 report will at once be proceeded with, and when finished 

 will, without doubt, form one of the most attractive features 

 of the Gardens. 



Many new plants have, as usual, been introduced, and a 

 list of the donors is appended. Especial thanks are due to 



