REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 5 



In looking at the underside of the lantern lights in the roof, 

 the leaks are most abundantly in evidence in every direction. 

 It was a very dry day when I made my examination, but 

 there was water yet standing on some of the squares of the 

 horizontal ceiling light, which had fallen from the skylight, 

 and there were scores of other marks— then dry. The main 

 timbers and sarking must have been soaked frequently as the 

 many stains on them testify. After giving this matter my 

 careful attention, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion 

 that there is no "half way house" in the matter. If the 

 lantern lights are to be mended, they must be mended with 

 new ones. They are too weak and too composite, and made 

 on a bad principle. The timbers of the roof also require 

 stiffening, and gutters for condensation must be formed 

 inside. 



Coming to the plastering of the inside walls of the Museum, 

 but chiefly the Eastern Corridor, the mortar is found to be 

 quite as bad as that before mentioned, and so much so, that, 

 in at any rate the Upper Corridor, the ceiling (which has 

 dropped off in places) must be either taken down and renewed, 

 or sheets of plaster slabs screwed to the present ceiling. This 

 will also apply in part to the Staircase in the North East 

 corner. There are also many repairs absolutely necessary, 

 in the Staircase at the North East corner, and it should have a 

 cement skirting to prevent the plastering being constantly 

 broken away. 



The ceilings and walls generally (excepting the Committee 

 Room, etc.) are in places badly spotted, partly by the roof 

 leaking, and partly, I think, the result of condensation. The 

 ceiling of the South East staircase is a notable instance. 

 The effect of this is to give the Museum a dilapidated 

 appearance. I would recommend that the walls be coloured, 

 and the ceilings whitened, and although these may be said to 

 be sentimental repairs, yet they would very much add to the 

 attractiveness of the Museum. 



I think the question of condensation is one that should 

 receive attention. Since the last addition was made to the 



