44 Annual Meeting. 



would obtain for their shares. It would be a poor testimonial to 

 the Society as it existed at present and a poor tribute to the 

 memories of the men who had built it up in the past to think for 

 a moment of scattering their collection for such a reason as this. 

 How any person could think that the collection of the Society 

 would be better in the hands of the Corporation was more than he 

 could understand. From a pretty long recollection of the Cor- 

 poration he must say he thought the Museum would be better in 

 its present location. The Corporation ought to establish, and 

 doubtless would establish, a municipal museum, but he did not 

 think it at all likely that the contents ot the Society's Museum 

 would ever be allowed by the Shareholders to be handed over to 

 it. The Society was well able to keep its collection, and to talk of 

 maintaining the Society and handing over its collection was a 

 dangerous suggestion, the carrying out of which would weaken, if 

 not extinguish altogether the Society. He took the liberty of 

 suggesting that the Shareholders present should be allowed to give 

 expression to their views on the subject. 



The Chairman said he had not liked to interrupt Mr. Kidd in 

 his remarks, but the business for which they had been summoned 

 had been concluded, and it would not be in order now to launch 

 out into a discussion such as was proposed. The Society might 

 depend upon it that the Council would take no step in the matter 

 without calling the members together, and giving them the most 

 ample opportunity of considering the subject in all its bearings. 



Mr. Muir said the letter referred to by Mr. Kidd suggested that 

 the Shareholders were anxious to make a profit for themselves out 

 of the collection. He wished to protest against this suggestion. 

 Nothing was further from their thoughts than to seek their own 

 personal advantage in this matter. 



In reply to Mr. Kyle, Mr. Horner said there were 160 Share- 

 holders and about 20 Subscribers, in the Society. 



The matter then dropped, and the Meeting terminated. 



The Officers of the Society for the year were elected by the 

 Council after the Annual Meeting: — President, Sir Otto Jaffe, J.P.; 



