36 Timehri. 



Since 1851, the Society has conducted local exhibitions a9 well as 

 the necessary preparations for those abroad where the colony was repre- 

 sented. Those only who know the amount of work connected with them 

 can appreciate the value of the Society. For his services at the London 

 Exhibition of 1862 W. H. Holmes was knighted and for similar work of 

 the Colonial and Indian Exhibition Mr. G. H. Hawtayne received a 

 C.M.G. ; both were prominent members of the Society. 



The file of " Timehri " laid upon the table shows another aspect of 

 ourworkand.it maybe stated that the curators of the Museum have 

 helped to make the colony known to the world. Much has been said 

 about advertising the colony, but this cannot be done by official publica- 

 tions ; books like Brown's " Canoe and Camp Life " and Im Thurn's 

 ' : Among the Indians " are bought to be read and kept where a Blue-book 

 is neglected. Mr. Barrington Brown was a member, and Sir E. F. Im 

 Thurj. curator of our Museum, when their books were written. 



One of the objects of the Society was to offer Premiums for improve- 

 ments, and it is not generally known that this was done in 1846, by the 

 Government at the request of the Society. The list is exhibited but 

 I have not found out whether Premiums were actually awarded ; the 

 amounts offered were from £1 to £30. 



In looking over the progressive development of the Society we can 

 say that the whole colony has been better and wiser because it 

 existed and therefore we must give all praise to Mr. Campbell and others 

 who did the pioneer work. Every member who feels the value of our 

 institution must say that, in spite of fault-finders, it has justified its exist- 

 ence. 



I may mention that several of the more important institu- 

 tions of the colony were due to the memorials of the Society. The 

 first Agricultural Chemist, Dr. Shier, had his laboratory on our premises 

 and later the Government established the Botanic Gardens and Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture at our request. The Chamber of Commerce is the 

 outcome of our Commercial Committee. In one way or another the 

 Society has helped local industries, gold and rice may be mentioned as 

 well as balata. It has always been prominent in exploration ; Sir Robert 

 Schomburgk was honorary member in the first year, Mr. Barrington 

 Brown came in later. Im Thurn and Queleh were explorers ; they paved 

 the way for those who came later. 



In conclusion I must state that this only skims the surface ; the 

 hstory of the So ciety would fill a book. Some of the materials for such 

 a work are exhibited but these are by no means all. It may bo safely 

 st ated that every man of any note in the colony has been a member, and 

 that the few who remain outside are at a disadvantage. Berbice once 

 had a Reading Society on similar lines, but I understand it ha9 now 

 degenerated and its library is of little value. Our Society has seen the 

 rise and fall of many others, — there is a proverb, " nothing keeps long 

 in Dernerara," but every rule has its exceptions. 



