Ulilli.im Sharp. 



IT is the inevitable but none the less deplorable result of 

 our Society having attained the thirty-third year of its 

 useful existence that we have to mourn the gradual loss by 

 death of some of our earliest and most attached members. 

 We have had to chronicle with sorrow the demise of 

 several of our most valued and successful workers in 

 recent years. Last year death carried from our midst, 

 though not from memory, a most popular and justly 

 esteemed member in the person of William Shakp. 

 His connection with the Society began with his arrival 

 in the Island in 1883, to take up the post of Principal 

 in the then newly -formed States' Intermediate School 

 for Boys. His kindly readiness to undertake any quiet, 

 unobtrusive work at once marked him out for office. At 

 the close of the year he became Secretary to the relief 

 of Mr. W. A. Luff, who had combined Secretarial 

 duties with those of Treasurer. He held this office 

 until December 19th, 1900, when he was unanimously 

 chosen to the Presidential Chair, on the proposition of 

 Mr. Luff, seconded by Mr. Collenette. His address as 

 retiring President at the Annual Meeting, December, 

 1902, was recognised on all sides as being of exceptional 

 merit and interest. It was a stimulating and most able 

 review of the twenty years (since its foundation) of the 

 Society's work in every branch of its activities. Mr. 

 Sharp himself did not specialize in any department of 

 Natural Science, but took a keen interest in all researches 

 and investigations made by members. A most regular 

 attendant at all meetings and excursions, he often con- 

 tributed by intelligent questioning to the elucidation of 

 obscure points in papers read, or concerning exhibits 



