1889-90.] 195 



exhihition. The monthly reports of the Library Committee 

 will show the progress made in this direction, which involved 

 the necessity of having a Museum under the Public Libraries 

 Act. 



At the January meeting, the report only referred to improv- 

 ing the light and ventilation of the reading-room. 



At the February meeting, a Councillor asked a question 

 about the promised South Kensington loan. An Alderman 

 answered that their Committee were in communication with 

 South Kensington, and the authorities there were to place at 

 the disposal of our Library Committee, a collection of objects in 

 two departments, namely, Plaster Modelling and Ironwork, 

 and that further particulars would be given next month. 



This was encouraging, but the March and April meetings 

 passed without any further reference to the matter. 



At the May meeting, it was stated that a formal application 

 had been made to South Kensington, and in the discussion 

 thereon, it was stated that up to that date no formal application 

 was made, so that all the promises previously given were with- 

 out foundation. 



I visited South Kensington early in May, and confirmed this 

 fact, and ascertained that the authorities were most anxious to 

 assist Belfast, and were prepared to deal liberally with the City, 

 but that State aid was only given to localities willing to help 

 themselves, and that collections for extended periods of exhibi- 

 tion could only be given to " permanent Museums or Schools 

 of Science and Art, and to Museums established under the 

 Public Libraries Acts, or under Municipal Authority." Here 

 then we have the official confirmation of what I have been 

 contending for so long, namely : — That in order to obtain the 

 great advantages offered by the Slate, we must have a museum 

 under the Public Libraries Act. 



At the Council meeting on 1st June, no reference was made 

 to the matter. At the last Library Committee meeting a few 

 days before the July Council meeting, a letter was read from 

 me, and in reply I was told by the Town Clerk that the Com- 



