168 PROCEEDINGS. 
“In oe nine (9) different Sections during the session of 
1876 it was intended to give every member a favourable oppor- 
tunity fon bringing any matter of scientific interest before the 
Society, even without requiring to dress those observations in the 
garb of a more or less tate aga paper, such as would be laid before 
the monthly general m 
“Tt is hoped these Sections will be more fully made use of during 
the present session. e preliminary meetings for the election of 
officers for each section, and the fixing of the days of meeting, 
were held much earlier this year than befo ore, viz., during the early 
part of last month. This will enable each Section to begin their 
regular monthly meetings this month, and thus to secure during 
the current year seven monthly sectional meetings, besides eight 
moiety general meetings. 
“The financial position of the ‘Society, as shown by the balance- 
sheet of the Hon. Treasurer, laid before the Society this evening, is in 
which Parliament had liberally granted under the condition of a 
‘double amount being received from private sources. 
“This addition to our ordinary income enabled the Council to 
expend a larger sum on books and periodicals and other necessary i 
requirements than they would otherwise have been enabled to do. 
Government and Parliament has thus recognized the position 
of the Society, and it must be a desire of each of its members to 
make the Society increasingly us 
“ During last year the appeal io the Government for assistance 
ae providing a suitable building - the Society has been 
red, Parliament having grante e sum of £500 con- 
ditionally that the sum of £1 ,000 be 6 for the same 
purpose by the public. 
“A circular was, therefore, addressed in September last to 
every member of the Society, in response to which up to to April 
last the sum of £475 2s. had been promised towards such ® 
building fund, aortas still —— £525 to be provided for. Our 
£5 this : 
which, but for this generous ‘or would probably have collapsed. : 
There i is now but about £25 needed to complete the subscription 
to Government for the ent of the 
grant of £500. oo 
