REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 1 27 



work repaired. The leadwork generally and the lead flashings 

 have been pointed with oil mastic and re-adjusted. 



The whole of the rainwater spouts, which are enclosed in 

 the east wall, have been cut off from direct connection with 

 the sewers, and intercepting shafts have been built to each 

 down spout, the shafts being lined with white glazed bricks 

 and fitted with stone kerbs and iron gratings. The internal 

 drainage of the building has likewise been properly discon- 

 nected from the main sewers, and other very necessary 

 sanitary improvements effected. 



The work now finished has brought the Museum building 

 into a more satisfactory state, averting as it does the constant 

 danger arising from the weakness and bad construction of 

 the former roof, and the continual dampness and flooding of 

 the floors from the dropping of water through the inner roof 

 after every heavy shower of rain or fall of snow. This work 

 includes the bulk of that recommended by the architect as 

 absolutely necessary to be done, and the whole has been 

 carried out thoroughly under his direct and careful super- 

 vision at a cost of about ;^i,628. 



Since the above was completed the plastering of the 

 ceiling of the East Corridor has been entirely removed 

 and replaced, and the ceilings of the staircases and the 

 inner rooms carefully repaired. The whole of the walls and 

 ceiUngs of the large rooms, corridors, work-rooms, and 

 passages have been coloured. It was necessary in order to 

 accomplish this that the Museum should be entirely closed, 

 and this was done for a period of about three weeks from 

 August 26th to September i8th, 1899. 



The Committee gratefully acknowledge that all these im- 

 portant and costly alterations could not have been carried 

 out without the kind assistance and liberal donations of the 

 influential friends and members of the Society, and the 

 successful result of their appeal is specially due to the kind 

 exertions of Mr. Watson- Armstrong. From the time of the 

 first mention of a Building-Repair Fund, Mr. Watson- 



