XXXIX 



the Tvork of the society. The members 

 would all remember the very keen interest 

 their late respected presidenc Sir Eobert 

 Hamilton, when Goveruor of xasmania. 

 foolc in the work of the society. His Ex- 

 cellency 'had kindly consented to preside 

 at the opening meeting of tne 1902 session, 

 on Tuesday, the 29th April, and to deliver 

 the 'presidential address. He felt sure 

 there would be a large gathering of mem- 

 bers on that occasion. 



Vote of Thanks to the Press. 



On the motion of Mr. Kussell Youne. 

 seconded by Mr. R. E. Mc>,'aghten, a 

 hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the 

 press, for the very able manner in which 

 the proceedings of the societv had been 

 published. 



The meeting then closed. 



TASMANIAN MUSEUM AND AET 

 GALLEEY EXTENSION. 



EOUNDATION-STONE CEREMONY. 



The laying of the corner-stone of the 

 extension of the Tasmanian Museum \va^ 

 performed by His Excellency the Admin- 

 istrator, Sir John Dodds, on March 20tb, 

 1901. 



Among those present with Sir John 

 Dodds were Lady Dodds and Miss Gatfi- 

 house, and Mr. Warren Dodds, pri- 

 vate secretary; the Premier (Hon. 

 Neil E. Lewis), and Mrs. Lewis; 

 the Bishop of Tasmania ; the Mayoress 

 of Hobart (Mrs. J. G. Davies); the Minis- 

 ter for Lands (Hon. E. Mulcahj') ; the 

 Hon. Ad.ve Douglas (President of the 

 Legislative Council and Mrs. Doug- 

 las; the Chief Secretary (the 

 Hon. G. T. Collins); Hon. Dr. Butler, 

 M.L.C., and Mrs. Butler; Messrs. W. B. 

 Propsting, John Hamilton, W. H. T. 

 Brown, J. W. Evans, Davenport Hoggins, 

 Ms.H.A.; the Town Clerk of Hobart 

 (Mr. J. W. C. Hamilton) and Mrs. Ham- 

 ilton; Mr. .Justice and Mrs. Mclntyre; 

 Mrs. R. C. Patterson; the Chance. lor (f 

 the Universitj' (Rev. Geo. Clarke); Mr. 

 T. Stephens, and the Reg'strar (Colonel 

 T. Stephens), and the Registrar (Colonel 

 Cruickshauk); Captain Munro, of H.M.S. 

 Dart; the chairman (Rev. G. W. Sharp) 

 and members of the Ministers' Associa- 

 tion, several aldermen of the city, and 

 several members of the Royal Society. 

 There was a large concourse of the gene- 

 ral public. 



The corner-stone is of freestone, from 

 Brighton, and is placed at the north-east 

 corner facing Macquarie-street. The ar- 

 ■ chitect is Mr. J. Shields, Director ot Pub- 

 lic Works, the contractor being Mr. 

 Cheverton, and the overseer of works, on 

 behalf of the Government, Mr. J. Maddi- 

 son. In the corner-stone cavitj- were 

 placed copies of "The Mercury," the 



"Tasmanian News," and two Launceston 

 papers; a list of the trustees of the Mu- 

 seum and the Council of the Royal So- 

 ciety, as well as some statistical docu- 

 ments and coins. The building is to be 

 completed by November. Its upper room 

 will be usecl as a new art gallery, and the 

 remainder for the display of Tasmanian 

 articles. 



The silver trowel used was designed 

 and manufactured by Mr. A. Butterfield, 

 of Elizabeth-street, and inscribed — "Pre- 

 sented to His Excellency, the Administra- 

 tor, Sir John Stokell Dodds, on the oc- 

 casion of his laying the corner-stone of 

 the new wing of the Tasmanian Museum 

 and Art Gallery. Hobart, March 20, 

 1901." The inscription on the corner- 

 stone is — "This stone was laid b.v His 

 Excellency the Administrator, Sir .lohn 

 Dodds. C.M.G., on the 20th March, 1901. " 



His Excellency, in commencing the pro- 

 ceedings, said: — "Ladies and gentlemen. 

 — Before proceeding to the very import- 

 ant duty of laying the corner-stone ot 

 the new wing of the Museum and Art 

 Gallery, I propose to trace verv shortl.v 

 the formation and growth of the insti- 

 tution itself. It is the offspring of the 

 society formed by Sir John Franklin in 

 1841, and which a few years later became 

 the Royal Society of Tasmania. The 

 meetings of the society in those days were 

 held at old Government House, which 

 stood near the site of the present Town- 

 hall. In the year 1816 the Council of 

 the societj', who had previously establish- 

 ed the Botanical Gardens, decided to be- 

 gin the collection of specimens of natu- 

 ral history for a museum. A room in 

 the Legislative Council Chambers was ob- 

 tained, and tor some years that room 

 constituted the Museum of Tasmania. In 

 1849 the Government, recognising the im- 

 portance and value to the community ot 

 the growing institution, granted an an- 

 nual sum towards its support, and the 

 Royal Society then obtained more ac- 

 commodation by removing to the building 

 at the corner 'of Harrington and Mac- 



