lii Annual Report. 



here, however, he stated that the Institute is as yet urprovided with 

 accommodation for their property. This is matter of regret, as 

 the Council are aware that if such were supplied, many valuable 

 contributions of specimens would be presented to the Institute. 

 This deficiency is more to be regretted, as some collections pre- 

 sented by members cannot be taken possession of until suitable 

 accommodation is provided for their reception. This subject has 

 indeed, for a long time, engaged the earnest consideration of the 

 Council. They have, in the meantime, applied to the Government 

 for a site on which to erect a suitable building for the Institute, 

 and so favorably has their application been received by the Honor- 

 able the President of the Board of Land and Works, that they 

 were invited by that gentleman to name trustees, and give other 

 details. This has been done, and the Council anxiously wait to 

 receive intimation of the site bestowed,* when they would recom- 

 mend to their successors in office to lose no time in erecting such 

 accommodation as would serve the immediate wants of the Insti- 

 tute, with the view of future extension. 



For this purpose there is at present available a large sum, which 

 will be further augmented by the subscriptions of the members 

 now becoming due. 



The financial condition of the Institute is in the highest degree 

 satisfactory. From the necessary expenditure in the printing of 

 the "Transactions" for the years 1856 and 1857, this result would 

 have been otherwise, had not the Government with a spirit of 

 liberality, placed upon the Estimates the sum of one thousand 

 pounds sterling, which amount has been received by the Treasurer. 

 The Council refer with pleasure to this grant made to the Institute 

 by the Government and Legislature, and they feel assured that 

 their earnest desire to render the Institute worthy of such 

 encouragement will continue to be appreciated. It will be grati- 

 fying to scientific men in all parts of the world to observe that in 

 Victoria the claims of science are not overlooked. Indeed, it is 

 worthy of notice that the present era is remarkable for the high 

 appreciation and ample encouragement generally afforded to 

 scientific and learned societies. 



Varions committees have been nominated for the purpose of 

 enquiring into and carrying out subjects of local and general 

 interest. Among other results, it may be stated that arrange- 

 ments have been made for the reception of an extensive collection 

 of British Song Birds, presented to the Institute by an English 

 Lady, in furtherance of the project brought under 'your notice in a 

 paper read on the subject of " the introduction of such birds into 



* A site has, since the reading of this report, been granted for the purposes of 

 the Institute by His Excellency the Governor in Council. (See Correspon- 

 dence, &c, in the " ArPEN'mx.") 



