REPORT OF THE COUNCIL XIX 



September 6th, in the Laing Gallery, which gave those 

 visitors whose sectional work lay in diflferent centres of the 

 city, an opportunity of meeting and exchanging courtesies 

 with their friends. The Hancock Museum was thrown 

 open to the visitors, many of whom took the opportunity of 

 studying the various collections which lield special interest. 



In the continued occupation of Armstrong College as a 

 Military Hospital, students attending the Biological and Art 

 Sections have again found temporary accommodation in the 

 Hancock Museum, and the Examinations for the Cambridge 

 Higher Locals were once more held in the Libra,ry during the 

 month of June. 



The number of visitors who passed tbrough the turnstile 

 for the twelve months ending June 30th, 1917, was 22,242, 

 which compares with 17,613 for the preceding year. This is 

 a gratifying record of progress. Soldiers and sailors, stationed 

 in the district and in the hospitals, continue to visit the Han- 

 cock Museum in large numbers, forming the majority of 

 visitors, but there is also an increase in the support given by 

 the public. 



The number of children from the Council Schools of New- 

 castle, who visit by arrangement, numbered 1,210, practically 

 the same as last "year. Until normal conditions again obtain, 

 and the difficulty with regard to teachers and classes is 

 removed, it can scarcely be expected that a systematic plan of 

 teaching Natural History can be forinulated and followed with 

 success. 



Boys from the Grammar School have again come, under 

 the charge of Masters, and during the earlier part of the year 

 had the benefit of short lectures and talks by a member of the 

 Staff'. Many of them display-a keen and intelligent interest 

 in the subject. 



The Curator's Report contains an account of an interesting 

 experiment made with the object of encouraging children in 

 nature study. 



