528 EEPOBT OF THE COMMITTEE 



NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 



NORTHUMBEELAND, DURHAM, AND NEWCASTLE- 

 UPON-TYNE. 



REPORT READ AT THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING MAY 10th, 1870, 



ISAAC LOWTHIAK BELL, ESQ., V.P., IN THE CHAIK. 



Your Committee have again to chronicle a season of comparative 

 prosperity in the affairs of the Society, unmarked by any very 

 special event. 



The Treasurer's statement herewith presented shows a satis- 

 factory balance in hand, notwithstanding a number of important 

 improvements involving outlay which have been effected during 

 the past year. 



The Museum still continues to be largely frequented by the 

 public, notwithstanding the charge for admission, thirteen thou- 

 sand six hundred and forty persons having paid at the doors, 

 in addition to members of the Society and their friends, who are 

 admitted gratuitously. It is fairly open to question however 

 whether this number would not be still further increased were 

 the doors opened free on certain days as in some Museums. 

 The average income from this source since 1863, when the charge 

 was first fixed at its present amount, has been about ^120, an 

 important item in the Society's annual balance-sheet, but one 

 with which a very moderate share of a Museum rate would en- 

 able it to dispense, at any rate, in part. 



The Winter Evening Meetings have been continued during 

 the past season, and have been fairly attended by members and 

 their friends as heretofore ; but the difficulty, which increases 

 every year, of obtaining the services of suitable lecturers, has 



