194 EEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 



that they have a balance in hand of £120 : 9 : 7 at the end of 

 the present financial year. 



It had long been felt that the temperature of the Museum in 

 winter was insufficient for the comfort of visitors and the proper 

 preservation of the collections, and the Committee accordingly 

 consulted Mr. F. W. Rich, who advised them to increase the 

 heating power by adding a new boiler to the heating apparatus, 

 and to lay down additional coils and to cover the return coils 

 which run underneath the floors of the building with a boiler 

 composition for retaining the heat. This work has now been 

 accomplished with a very satisfactory result, though the more 

 effective heating secured, of course necessitates a greater con- 

 sumption of fuel and an additional outlay. 



It has also been found necessary to erect a chimney specially 

 for the boiler house, which was an improvement much needed 

 and strongly recommended by the Architect, as in the past the 

 flues from the boilers have been carried into the chimney of the 

 Caretaker's house, thereby rendering some of the walls and 

 rooms uncomfortably hot. 



Hancock Pkize. — During the year the Committee have received 

 the Fund collected for the Hancock Prize, which Fund has been 

 invested in the names of the Trustees of the Society, and is held 

 by them under the following regulations, which were adopted 

 by the Committee at their meeting in April last : — 



REGULATIONS. 



1 . The Trustees of the Natural History Society of Northum- 



berland, Durham, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne shall be the 

 Trustees of the Fund. 



2. The Fund shall be invested and the income shall be used 



to provide annually one or more prizes of books or 

 scientific apparatus. 



3. The Committee of the Natural History Society shall be 



the managers of the said Fund and the income thereof, 

 and the prizes shall be awarded by examiners nominated 

 by them. Such Committee shall have power to delegate 



