76 REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1896 



The balance of funds in his hands amounted to £151 128 lOd, 

 and there were now 388 members. In connection with the 

 subscriptions, he thought it right to mention that there were 

 several defaulters who had not paid anything for a number of 

 years. 



Captain Norman thought the time had come when the Club 

 should strengthen the Treasurer's hands, and he moved that 

 these defaulters be struck off the list, as well as those who had 

 failed to pay their entrance fee. 



Sir William Crossman seconded, and the motion was carried. 

 Captain Norman then moved : — " That the Club receives with 

 regret the resignation of Mr Robert Middlemas, thanks him for 

 his long and valuable services, for a period of over twenty-five 

 years, and resolves to invite the members to subscribe for the 

 purpose of presenting him with a small acknowledgment of their 

 appreciation." 



Colonel Milne Home supported the motion, which was cordially 

 adopted. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee 

 to carry out the proposal with reference to a testimonial to Mr 

 Middlemas: — The President, the ex- President, the Secretary, 

 Rev. George Gunn, Sir William Crossman, Colonel Milne Home, 

 Mr Boyd, Mr W. T. Hindmarsh, Mr George Bolam, Captain 

 Forbes, Captain Norman, Mr Sanderson, and Mr Young. 



Mr Middlemas returned thanks, and stated that his work for 

 the Club had all along been a labour of love, and that he was 

 deeply gratified by this mark of their appreciation of his services. 

 Rev. John Walker proposed that the Rev. George Gunn, M.A., 

 Stichill, be elected Joint Secretary of the Club. Mr Gunn was 

 a learned botanist and an accomplished antiquary, and had 

 already done good work for the Club, and his appointment would 

 not only be for its best interests, but would be personally grati- 

 fying to Dr Hardy, whose feelings they were bound to consult 

 in such a matter. The nomination was seconded by Captain 

 Carr-Ellison, and unanimously adopted. 



APPOINTMENT OF NEW TREASUREK. 



Mr Boyd proposed that Mr George Bolam, F.Z.S., Berwick, 

 be appointed Treasurer. He was not only a good naturalist but 

 an excellent man of business, and would not fail, if elected, to 

 prove himself a worthy successor to Mr Middlemas. 



