REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 3 



Report to the Sub- Committee on the condition of the Museum, 



and approximate cost of putting it in a fair state of repair. 

 Gentlemen, 



Since meeting you at the Museum on the 19th ultimo, I 

 have made a further examination of the building as to its 

 present condition. 



My report dated the 5th ultimo, addressed to the Secretary, 

 indicated the least that should be done in repairs ; but at the 

 meeting held on the 19th ultimo, I was asked to report the 

 approximate cost of putting the whole building in as thorough 

 a state of repair as circumstances will admit, and have there- 

 fore taken a more comprehensive view of the matter, so as to 

 place before you what, in my opinion, is the real state of 

 affairs. You will then be able to determine whether the whole 

 or part shall be carried into effect. 



There appears to be two causes which may account for the 

 present bad state of repair (i) a want of skill in construction, 

 and {2) a want of good quality in some of the materials used. 



The following remarks apply generally to the whole building, 

 except the western side : — 



The condition of the stone and brickwork in the upper part 

 of the walls is one that should occupy the early attention of 

 the Committee, as soon as ever the weather is favourable to 

 admit of the work being carried out. The mortar, with which 

 the walls have been built, has been of a very poor description, 

 and has disintegrated and fallen away, leaving in many cases 

 the joints quite open. Many of the joints are over an inch in 

 width, and all of such a nature as to admit rain, which will 

 tend to deterioration, and if allowed to go on will lead to very 

 extensive restoration. Many of the bricks behind the parapets 

 have decayed, and fallen away, and all the lead flashings 

 require sinking deeper and repointing. The whole of the 

 joints in stone and brickwork in the parapets, and the tops of 

 the cornices, must be pointed or grouted. 



There are aiso many vertical joints open in the face of the 

 building, that, in their present condition, are detrimental, but 

 owing to the difficulty of now being able to fill them up 



