REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 111 



materials, the pointing of the outside of the Museum, to which 

 reference was made last year, has been deferred. The 

 caretaker's house has been repointed where necessary, papered 

 and painted inside. 



Progressive work on the collections has necessarily been 

 slow, owing to a reduced staff, whose time and energy have 

 been chiefly directed to the examination and preservation of 

 the collections generally. The Curator, Mr. Gill, was granted 

 leave of absence last July, to undertake work in connection 

 with the Friends' Ambulance Unit, and is at present in France 

 engaged on Military Hospital train work. 



VVm. Voutt, who so faithfully served the Society for 32 

 years as caretaker, fell ill towards the end of December, and 

 was obliged to undergo an operation from which he did not 

 recover. He had been associated with the Hancock Museum 

 from its building, and combining willingness and industry with 

 his knowledge of the place and its collections, his loss to the 

 Society has been great. It is a matter of congratulation to 

 the Council that the Assistant Curator, Mr. Fletcher, has been 

 able to carry on the work with the help of Miss Scott. It was, 

 however, found necessary to appoint another lady on the 

 staff. Miss Hepburn, who is proving a valuable assistant, 

 A. E. Bennett has been appointed as caretaker. A. Spencer, 

 who had charge of the grounds and boiler-house for upwards 

 of 20 years, has resigned his position. 



The acquisitions received during the year, of which a full list 

 appears on another page, are valuable and interesting ; 

 especially so are those dealing with Ethnology, a department 

 which has become so enriched as to necessitate some re- 

 arrangement of the specimens when such work can be 

 undertaken. 



The exhibit of wild flowers continues to attract visitors, 

 who come regularly to inspect the specimens and to seek help 

 in the identification of plants found during their rambles. The 

 supply of flowers has come chiefly from Miss Doris Hill, Mr. 

 Randle B. Cooke and Mr. Nicholas Temperley, to whom 

 thanks are recorded for their help. 



