THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 7 1 



The lease of our present premises having expired last May, the 

 Council of the Association sought to obtain accomodation for the 

 Natural History specimens, and room for holding our meetings in 

 the new Public Free Library Building. For that purpose a deputa- 

 tion appointed by the Association had an interview with the Trustees 

 of the Library, but failed to come to any arrangement. Since then 

 the Hamilton Art School having secured the upper story of the 

 Library building, the Directors of that institution have made us the 

 offer of a five year's lease of 1200 feet of floor space for the annual 

 rental of $130.00. This offer has been accepted, and it is hoped 

 that the first meeting of our next session, commencing in November, 

 will be held in our new premises. 



During the year many contributions have been made to the 

 Museum and Library. To all the friends who have added to the 

 value of these branches of the Association work we tender our best 

 thanks. 



The Council having been asked to consider the question of 

 giving or lending the books of ihe Association to the Free Library, 

 has concluded to give and lend them, under conditions which are 

 set forth, and may be found in the abstract of the Minutes of the 

 Association meetings. This proposition having been confirmed by 

 the Association, and accepted by the Trustees of the Library, the 

 books have been handed over for the use of the public, though still 

 the property of the Association. 



The Sections, especially the Biological and Geological Sections, 

 have been in active operation during the year, and the reports of 

 these will be presented and published in the Transactions of the 

 Session. 



We cannot close this report without expressing our great esteem 

 for Drs. Burgess and Reynolds, and also our regret for the loss of 

 their valuable services to the Association by removal from the 

 neighborhood. Dr. Burgess, during his connection with us, has 

 done much to awaken fiesh interest in scientific study, especially in 

 Botany. The Association is indebted to him for the commencement 

 that has been made to form a complete collection of the Flora of 

 Hamilton. Dr. Reynolds was for long the valued Secretary of the 

 Biological Section, and his services in that capacity will be much 

 missed. We desire to express our best wishes for their success and 

 happiness in their new sphere of labor. 



