12 



regretted by tliem all ; and they were particularly indebted to 

 the kindness of Mr. E. D. Swan, who, in the absence of 

 a Curator, had given his valuable sei'vices at the Museum, and 

 would probably do so until the arrival of the new Curator 

 about the 1st March next. Although the Society could not 

 record the last as a brilliant session, good work had been 

 done ; and the action of the Domain Committee, with the very 

 able Superintendent of the Gardens, had introduced some 

 new features in the Domain, and greatly improved its appear- 

 ance as compared with that of two or three years since. 

 The labours of Mr. Barnard had been made more onerous 

 and responsible by the decease of their late much esteemed 

 Curator, and also unfortunately by illness, wdiich confined 

 him to his house, but from which they w^ould all be glad to 

 see he was recovering, and would unite in the hope that all 

 traces of the illness will soon pass away. For the above, with 

 many other equally important reasons, he felt sure all would 

 join in a most hearty and cordial vote of thanks to their 

 Secretary, Mr. Barnard. 



Mr. Stephens said he had very great j)lcasure in seconding 

 the motion. Though glad to see their old friend Dr. Agnew 

 ao-ain occupying the position in which he had done so much for 

 the Royal Society, he was confident that the Fellows were 

 fully sensible of what they owed to Mr. Barnard for having 

 so readily consented to undertake the duties of Honorary 

 Secretary ; and he could himself bear testimony to the zealous, 

 painstaking, and efficient manner in which those duties had 

 been discharged during the past three years. 



The Chairman, before putting the motion, begged to say a 

 few words in its cordial suppoit. During his comparatively 

 long absence from the Colony he had regular opportunities, 

 through the columns of the Mercury^ of observing the yary 

 zealous and efficient manner in wdilch the Honorary Secretary 

 had always conducted the affairs of the Society. So much 

 indeed had he been impressed by this, that it was only at the 

 uro-ent desire of Mr. Barnard himself he had consented to 

 undertake again the duties which had been so ably cari-ied on 

 in his absence. His work, he knew, would be lightened 

 by the aid and co-operation which had been very kindly 

 promised him by Mr. Barnard ; and under these circumstances 

 he ho])ed, as far as the Honorary Seci'ctary's duties were con- 

 cerned, that the progress of the Society would be as satisfactory 

 in the future as it had been in the past. 



