392 TlMEHRI. 



being directed to questions of much importance, some 

 of which necessarily trench on the province of politics 

 which is forbidden ground to this Society, while the 

 Commercial Committee still has before it a wide field of 

 subjects connected with the commerce of the colony, with 

 which it can legitimately and profitably deal. 



The Museum of the Society has prospered under 

 the care of Mr. Quelch, who has recently returned 

 to his duties, bringing with him renewed energy. 

 We may expect large additions to our natural history 

 collection, which will make the Museum more attractive 

 than ever. The Museum, however, ought to contain 

 more than specimens of natural history and the 

 like. The Museum cf an Agricultural and Com- 

 mercial Society should, I think, have within its walls 

 a complete collection of specimens of what we can 

 grow and make, and what we buy and sell. It should 

 be the colony's sample room where a visitor on business 

 or pleasure can learn what we can supply and what we 

 require. For all these, however, space is wanted, and 

 with this view an attempt was made to obtain a legislative 

 grant to enable us to extend our premises. That 

 attempt failed owing to those who hold the purse-strings 

 not thinking it practicable or prudent to grant the 

 means ; but our advances were not so wholly discouraged 

 as to forbid the application being renewed, and I hope 

 that with a better financial condition of the colony and 

 brighter prospects than existed at the beginning of the 

 year, our petition may yet be granted, and the means 

 afforded of extending the Museum from which so many 

 of the humbler classes derive instruction and entertain- 

 ment, and which can in the way just indicated be of 



