REPORT OF THE COUNCIL Ul 



are printed later in the report. In connexion with the fund 

 raised for the photographic outfit (started last year by 

 Mr. W. E. Beck with a gift of ;^io), special mention must be 

 made of Mr. J. G. Bell's two subcriptions, namely, ^4. i6s. 2d. 

 to clear off the balance on the cost of the apparatus and 

 ;^3 i8s. for the equipment of the dark-room. 



Beyond a little work on the roof, where defects were re- 

 vealed by the extraordinary rainfall of September i6th, 1913, 

 the building has not required much repair during the year. 

 A heavy charge has, however, fallen upon the Building Repair 

 Fund in consequence of some very necessary work on the 

 drains. The main drain at the back of the Museum showed 

 evidences of defective flow, and under the direction of Mr. 

 J. J. Hill and Mr. W. E. Beck it was opened up and examined. 

 The defect proved to be of long standing, and of so serious a 

 nature as to necessitate the entire reconstruction of that section 

 of the drainage. The new drains were laid on a system 

 planned by Mr. Hill, which makes it easy to locate and remedy- 

 any trouble that may occur in future. While the workmen 

 were at the Museum the opportunity was taken to have some 

 minor defects in other drains and other parts of the build- 

 ing attended to. Mr. Hill gave his efficient professional 

 services free of all cost to the Society, and Mr. Beck also 

 kindly co-operated with him in planning and supervising the 

 work. Another service has been rendered by Mr. Wilfred 

 Hall : at his own expense he has had the oak doors in the 

 front of the Museum cleaned and put into good order. There 

 is still work waiting to be done on the building, particularly in 

 repointing masonry. The House Committee have recom- 

 mended that a considerable amount of this work should be 

 carried out during the coming year. The good progress made 

 by Mr. Walther with the examination and re-arrangement of 

 the mineral collection has necessitated the purchase of five 

 supplementary cases, and already more are required. 



The membership of the Society on June 30th stood at 412, 

 which represents a gain of two in the year. Sixteen new 

 members have joined the Society, whilst six have been lost by 



