REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1898 285 



past, and therefore they might be sure he would do it ably 

 in the future. 



Captain Norman said that for the last quarter of a century 

 he had been associated with the late Secretary, and therefore 

 he wished to take that opportunity of adding his testimony 

 to the very great loss they, as a Club, had sustained by his 

 death. Dr Hardy's gifts were of no common order. He 

 was a living encyclopedia, and a most amiable phase of his 

 character was his readiness to impart his knowledge to 

 others. Take him all in all, they would not look upon his 

 like again. They had to consider now how his place was 

 to be supplied. Fortunately, they had a gentleman who had 

 qualifications for the post. He was able and zealous, and 

 without attaining to Dr Hardy's degree of knowledge, he 

 was fairly well versed in many of the branches of science 

 and research with which the members of the Club occupied 

 themselves. He had, moreover, considerable experience in 

 all the work of the Club, and he did not think they 

 could do better than appoint Mr Gunn as Secretary, if 

 that gentleman was willing to accept the office. 



Rev. Gr. Gunn said ever since the news of the lamented 

 death of their Secretary had come to them, this subject had 

 been more or less brought before him. The pressure of the 

 work that had been done during the last two or three years 

 had been lightened by the readiness with which Dr Hardy 

 gave his advice, and relieved him in a great measure of 

 certain responsibility. That work had been done, and he 

 hoped to the satisfaction of the members, aad to the con- 

 tinued prosperity of the Club. He felt, however, that a 

 great change had been made as regarded himself and his 

 relations to them, now that Dr Hardy was no longer with 

 them to aid him with his knowledge, and to support him 

 in their mutual undertaking ; so it was with reluctance 

 that he acceded to the wish that for this year, at all 

 events, there should be as few changes as possible in the 

 officials of the Club. There was an expectation of certain 

 changes in the near future, and with no desire to prejudice 

 these in the slightest by their action that day, he would 

 continue to act as Secretary. But he felt that he could 



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