290 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 



financial year have been very few. The sums which have been 

 subscribed to this fund, together with several sums formerly 

 bequeathed to form a Maintenance Fund, together with monies 

 from Capital Account, have been invested by your Committee 

 to the amount of five hundred pounds (£500) in River Wear 

 Commissioners Bonds, so that an additional sum of £20 per 

 annum has been added to the permanent income of the Society 

 during the past year. But the Committee earnestly desire to 

 point out that the increase in the number of members has been 

 comparatively small, and barely sufficient to fill up the gaps 

 caused by death and resignations. It is most desirable that the 

 aid of individual members should be enlisted to increase the 

 number of annual subscribers, but your Committee would also 

 point out that the comparatively small income from annual sub- 

 scribers shews more than any other argument the necessity of 

 obtaining a permanent income, for the proper preservation of the 

 collections, the general work of the Museum, and for maintain- 

 ing the whole in an efficient and progressive condition. 



At the meeting of the British Association in Bath last year it 

 was decided that the next year's meeting (1889) should be held 

 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, under the presidency of Professor 

 Flower. Shortly after, your Committee were requested to ap- 

 point six members of this Society to represent it on the General 

 Local Committee appointed to arrange for the meeting in New- 

 castle. The following gentlemen were appointed, and have 

 obligingly undertaken this duty, viz., Sir Lowthian Bell, Bart., 

 Kev. Dr. Norman, Dr. Embleton, John Hancock, C. M. Adamson, 

 and E. I. J. Browell. Application for the use of the Museum 

 Rooms during the visit of the British Association in September 

 next was made by the Local Secretaries, and was readily granted. 

 It has now been decided by the Entertainment Committee that 

 two Conversaziones shall be held in the Museum Rooms during 

 the week of the Meeting. 



The important' question in connection with the Meetings of 

 the British Association is as to the manner in which the Museum 

 Rooms are to be illuminated, and whether in a temporary or per- 

 manent manner. Your Committee are now engaged in discussing 



