174 TIMEHRI. 
state and would be despatched in a few days. They 
could rest assured that the Society had arranged for a 
very satisfaGtory show of the produétions of the colony, 
It was his pleasant duty to announce also that Mr. Quelct 7: 
had been appointed sole Commissioner for the colon a 
He was quite sure they could not get a better m an. 
for the place, and if energy and foresight were requir ig 
those qualities were certainly possessed by Mr. Quelch. | 
In regard to the Imperial Institute, for which a Com-_ 
mittee had been appointed some time ago, he thought 
the colony should not be behind-hand if it wanted to 
become known. > 
Having concluded the first seétion of his address, 1e . 
proceeded to review the present position of the Society — 
in reference to the objeéts for which it was incorporated, _ 
with suggestions for extending its usefulness. He hope 
his few suggestions would be taken in the friendly spirit — 
in which they were intended. They were made with the 
earnest belief that if carried out they would tend to pro- 
mote the usefulness of the Society. Having been estab- 
lished in 1844, it was now approaching its jubilee. it 
was incorporated as early as 1853, but on account of the 
Ordinance giving no limit to its acquirement of real 
property it was not confirmed. In 1866 this flaw was 
re€tified and the present limit of £10,000 imposed. The 
Society had now reached middle age, and he thought ~ 
everyone acquainted with its history would admit that it 
still showed signs of life and vigour. But, at the same 
time, he would venture to say that if any intelligent 
stranger were to ask for information as to its work, they 
could only point to the Reading Room, Library, Ex 
change Room, and doubtfully at the Museum. They cot M 
nt 
