632 



Society. Also seeing, that by the Act, the Governors have 

 power to make bye-laws, whether such bye-laws would alter 

 the interpretation now given, relative to the terms of 

 incorporation." 



The letter was not wholly without guile. If they could 

 iremove their property to other premises, without fear of con- 

 fiscation, then the path would be open for any future course 

 of action they might desire to' pursue. 



The reply from the Board, however, was guarded, and 

 in the nature of a compromise which did not materially 

 improve their position. It announced, that as a result of the 

 conference, "the Board are willing to modify the articles of 

 incorporation between the S.A. Institute and the Philosophical 

 Society, so as to make them accord with the incorporation 

 clauses of the schedule of Statutes and Rules." This mea-nt 

 that property could only be removed with the consent of the 

 Governors, and with this proviso, should vest in the S.A. 

 Institute, only in the event of dissolution of the incorporated 

 Society. 



The schedule of the Acts of 1855-6 had provided that 

 property accumulated by incorporated societies should become 

 vested in the Institute forth with an-d ivhthoiit reservation . But 

 this was a schedule which the Board had power to alter or 

 amend, subject to' the approval of the Legislature, and which 

 had already been so amended in 1861. 



A new Consolidated Act, embodying the undertaking O'f 

 the Board, duly received assent the following November. 



The room in which the Society held its meetings was 

 only at its disposal for twelve meetings a yeal:*, whereas the 

 actual number of meetings exceeded this. It was inade- 

 quately furnished, and it was therefore necessary to incur 

 the expense of erecting a cupboard and shelving, of which the 

 Society had to bear half the cost. 



The one bright spot in the landscape at this period was 

 due to the unvarying kindness and sympathy received from 

 the Press. Although the Society had no means of communi- 

 cating its work to the scientific world, its members continued 

 to read their papers, and the Press, out of the greatness of 

 its charity, continued to publish them. 



After reading the reports of the S.A. Institute, one is 

 forced to conclude that the difhculties which confronted the 

 Philosophical Society after its incorporation were not the 

 callous creation of the governing body of that institution. 

 The very constitution of the Board precluded a charge of in- 

 difference. Even the Secretary (Robert Kay) was a founda- 

 tion member of the Society and a man of strong personality. 



