year can and ought to be given by the Government of the 

 country for this work, until we have an institution worthy of 

 us as a progressive and intelligent people. 



It would mean less than fi^^e cents per head of our present 

 population. Surely that amount can be spared. Indeed, I 

 am one of those who think we cannot afford not to give this 

 matter immediate and full attention. Its economic and edu- 

 cational value would be immense. There should be a fire- 

 proof building on some central site, capable of extension and 

 suitable in every way for the work to be done. In it, even 

 this and kindred societies might be given shelter ; and I even 

 believe it might be well for the city to co-operate and have 

 within its walls quarters for the Tree City Library, which 

 must soon be provided, and which could find no better place 

 than as a wing or portion of a Provincial Museum, of which 

 every citizen might be proud. 



I trust that every member of this Society and all intelli- 

 gent citizens will urge this matter upon our Provincial and 

 Municipal Governments, until there mil be no doubt in the 

 minds of those in power that this movement is as desirable as 

 it is popular, and mil therefore be heartily supported by the 

 people. 



I hope this Society will take definite action in this matter 

 at once. 



In this connection I venture to quote the words of a prac- 

 tical and eminent man of business, Mr. B. E. AValker, Presi- 

 dent of one of our leading banks. 



His words demand the careful attention of every man in- 

 terested in the development of this countrj^, and fully sup- 

 port the position I have taken above : — 



"Mr. Walker, in an interesting paper read before the 

 Canadian Institute, makes a convincing plea for the promo- 

 tion, by governments throughout the Dominion, of a greater 

 amount of Geological, Palseontological and Botanical ex- 

 ploration. He proposes, also, state museums, which should be 

 a sort of visible summary of the knowledge already acquired, 

 or to be acquired in the future. 



"What Mr. Walker suggests is, briefly this : — 



"In conclusion I should like to say a few words as to 

 what we might reasonably expect in the way of Dominion 

 and Provincial surveys. We should have the Dominion and 



