REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE. 227 



At this meeting it was decided to issue a circular to mem- 

 bers and tte general public, asking them for subscriptions to 

 the Building Pund. 



At the general meeting on October 9th, 1879, Mr. Hancock 

 announced that Colonel Joicey had purchased the leasehold land 

 and premises at St. James', Barras Bridge, and presented this 

 site to the Society. Steps were at once taken to ascertain from 

 the Charity Commissioners what price would be required for the 

 enfranchisement of the same. The price arranged for was 

 £2000, and at the general meeting on the 16th October it was 

 decided that Messrs. Dees & Thompson be instructed to com- 

 plete the enfranchisement of the site. 



Another circular containing an account of the sums that had 

 already been promised towards the erection of the building was 

 drawn up and issued, and the general public were again appealed 

 to for contributions to the Building Pund. About the same 

 time application was made to the Corporation asking on what 

 terms the parcels of ground on the east and south side of the 

 Museum site could be obtained. At the general meeting on 

 the 12th March, 1880, the Committee recommended the pur- 

 chase of these parcels of land containing 3,364 square yards for 

 the sum of £450 of the Corporation, and the purchase was at 

 once effected. 



At this meeting it was also decided to ask Colonel Joicey to 

 sign, on behalf of the Society, the contracts for the main por- 

 tion of the building which it was decided to erect in the first 

 instance, so that the work should be commenced with as soon as 

 possible. Mr. John Wardle, who had made and generously pre- 

 sented the plans, was appointed architect, and Mr. "Wm. Wardle 

 clerk of works. The following gentlemen were appointed as a 

 Building Committee : — John Hancock, I. G. Dickinson, John 

 Grlover, E. T. Green, and "Wm. Dinning. Mr. I. G. Dickinson 

 was invited to become treasurer of the Building Fund. 



The following report of the Building Committee gives a de- 

 tailed account of the progress of the erection of the building 

 from the date of signature of the first contract to the present 

 time. 



