Report of Society's Meetings. 393 



material service to the agricultural and commercial 

 interests of the colony. It is also desirable to increase 

 our collection o( native or local specimens for the 

 purpose of exchange with similar institutions. Mr- 

 Quelch has by these means already enriched our Museum, 

 and I hope that we may in time add to it a considerable 

 number of interesting objects. That the museums at 

 home are willing to assist this institution has been shewn 

 by the readiness with which the British Museum 

 authorities assented to my request and sent to the Society 

 the impressions of incised writings now in our library. 

 We ought also, I think, to have specimens of the raw 

 materials from which the manufactured articles familiar 

 to us are made. We have a case shewing the various 

 products derived from coal tar and a more recent collection 

 of the minerals which form the basis of paints ; and I 

 think similar exhibits to these would form an attractive 

 and instructive series. 



In another direction we can claim some degree of 

 success. Our Curator laid before us the absolute 

 necessity of providing cases for the better accommo- 

 dation and better exhibition of the Museum speci- 

 mens. I took upon myself to apply to several of 

 those who are connected with the colony, and who, 

 though absentees, might be accredited with a desire to 

 extend the usefulness of our Museum, and the result 

 has been the following subscriptions : E. G. Barr, Esq , 

 §4So ; Messrs. Hogg, Curtis, Campbell & Co., $-'40 ; 

 Mrs. Williams, $240; Hugh S pros ton, Ksq., ^48; J. 

 McConnell, Esq., $240; Proprietors ofTaymouth Manor, 

 §50 40; Stewart Gardner, Esq., $11 »; Sandbach, Tinne, 

 & Co., $100; Colonial Company, Ltd., §i_'o; G. Garnet t, 



3 [) 



