226 ANNIVEESAEY ADDRESS. 



delphia Centennial Exhibition, in charge of the Nova Scotian con- 

 tingent of that immense display of the ingenuity and labour of the 

 nations of the world : and therefore some information must neces- 

 sarily be omitted which otherwise would have been placed before 

 you. It remains, however, in good hands. Further, with the op- 

 portunities he has enjoyed of being acquainted with the Exhibition 

 we may expect at some one of our ordinary meetings after his return, 

 an animated description of much that was important and interesting 

 there, — so that those of us who have not visited Philadelphia on 

 this occasion, ma}* have less reason to regret that we have remained, 

 at home. 



To members present, unacquainted with the rules which govern 

 the proceedings of the Institute, I may observe that our Annual or 

 Anniversary Meeting takes place on the second Wednesday of 

 October in every year. The outstanding accounts of the previous 

 year are then submitted, examined and passed ; the Treasurer's 

 statement laid before you, and audited ; also the state of our funds 

 and their sufficiency to meet expenses incurred, and that have to be 

 incurred. The officers for the ensuing year are then ballotted for 

 and elected; new members proposed, and so far as possible the 

 papers to be read at the ordinary monthly meetings, commencing 

 on the second Monday of November, and ending May of the fol- 

 lowing year, provided for. All this business has been carefully at- 

 tended to at previous anniversaries, by the Council of the Institute, 

 and you will find that body ready to give any explanation that may 

 be asked of them with reference to these or other matters that have 

 come under their supervision. They meet every fortnight during 

 the Winter session. 



I am glad to say that our onward progress, if not all that could 

 be desired, has been steady and assured. We are continually re- 

 ceiving accessions to the roll of membership. As to our finances, 

 we have hitherto, and with the help of the Legislature, which has 

 annually for some years past, voted us a small sum of money to 

 enable us to publish our Transactions, kept out of debt. That as 

 sistance, which is amply repaid by the information we are thus 

 enabled to send abroad of the natural resources of Nova Scotia, 



