Jubilee Celebration. 



HE fiftieth year of the Society's existence having 

 expired on the- i8th of March, 1894, it was 

 commemorated by an Historical Exhibition 

 and Conversazione on the 27th of the same month. The 

 obje6l of the Exhibition was, first, to give some idea of 

 the work of the Society by bringing together in chrono- 

 logical order everything of importance in which it had 

 been concerned, and second, to show a colle6lion of old- 

 time relics, bearing on the general history of the colony. 

 On the whole the exhibition was a success, but great 

 difficulty was experienced in obtaining the loan of 

 valuable articles, for fear of loss by fire or theft. This 

 can be easily understood, and no one would think of 

 blaming the owners if they hesitated to run the risk of 

 losing what was impossible to replace. However, not- 

 withstanding this, the personal application of the Assis- 

 tant Secretary and several members of the Book Com- 

 mittee brought together a very interesting colle6lion. 

 In the first class the most conspicuous feature was a 

 colle6lion of portraits of Members of the Society, the 

 place of honour being given to one of Her Majesty the 

 Queen, who has been Patroness since a few months 

 after the institution of the Society, and who is with the 

 exception of Mr. F. A, R. Winter, an Original Member, 

 the only living representative of the first membership. 

 This was one of a set of Royal portraits presented to the 

 Society on the occasion of the Marriage of the Princess 

 Royal, and with several autograph presentation volumes 

 (Speeches of the Prince Consort, &c.) shewed Her 



