xviii Proceedings, &c, for 1868. 



Dr. Barker, Professor Halford, and Mr. M'Gowan praised the 

 plan proposed ; and in reply to some inquiry the President said he 

 thought £1 per clock, per annum, would be about the expense of 

 carrying out the scheme, and this Mr. M'Gowan corroborated, 

 saying that in a circuit of three miles, fifty clocks might well be 

 maintained at that price. 



The president said he had now to communicate a message from 

 the Council on the proposed alterations. 



The message proposed The Erection of a Lodge on the grounds for 

 the residence of a permanent messenger, the partitioning off of the 

 hall, the building a library (to be open daily), with rooms for office 

 purposes, and the stuccoing of the building outside. The total cost 

 was estimated at .£800, and it was proposed in the first instance to 

 borrow the amount from the bank, and raise money on debentures 

 to liquidate that advance. 



Professor Halford thought it would be better if the Society moved 

 from its present hall to another locality ; the place was a desolate 

 one, and it would be better to get into the Library Reserve. 



Dr. Barker said it would be impossible to dispose of the present 

 building, and, moreover, there was very little difference between the 

 place they were now in and the one it was proposed to remove to. 

 If the alterations were carried out as proposed, all the objections 

 suggested by Professor Halford would be removed. 



Rev. Dr. Bleasdale objected to spending money on the present 

 building, and said a short act might be obtained by which the 

 hall and grounds could be disposed of. He advocated the Royal 

 Society getting quarters in the Library Reserve, where he hoped to 

 see all the scientific associations collected. He believed the 

 Government would be found willing to purchase the present site, 

 and he thought by the removal of the Society, a grant could be more 

 readily obtained out of funds to be voted for general science, than by 

 the present plan of going yearly begging for relief. 



The President said the Council had very carefully considered the 

 pleasant scheme propounded by Dr. Bleasdale, but could not see 

 any advantage to be gained by adopting it. It was thought better 

 to expend money on their own building, than to build on a place 

 in which they would only be upon sufferance. As to the yearly 

 begging for relief, the amount sought for was in aid of publishing 

 the Transactions. 



Mr. Bosisto objected to applying for a short act, on account of 

 the expense, but approved of removing to a better site. He thought 

 if the Government would purchase, no act would be required, and sug- 

 gested opening communications with the Government on the subject. 



Dr. Barker thought, as some discussion had arisen, it would be 

 as well to call a special meeting on the subject, although he saw no 

 reason to change his opinion. He considered the scheme adopted 

 by the Council most beneficial to the Society. 



