APJELIL- — SEPT. 1859.] 



Proceedings. 



221 



be in a satisfactory state. The suggestions offered by the Auditors 

 have been all complied with during the present year. The 

 financial position of the Society may be regarded as slightly im- 

 proving, and it is only to be regretted, that the limited number 

 of Members does not give encouragement to any hope that its 

 capital will be sufficiently augmented to allow of an extension of 

 its operations or an increase of its public usefulness. 



Number of Members. — On the 1st January 1858, there were 

 75 paying Members, and on the 30th June, this rose to 85. The 

 Committee regard this increase as satisfactory, but would de- 

 sire to bring prominently to the notice of the Members that the 

 Gardens do not receive such general support as they are fairly en- 

 titled to. They are open at all times to the free use of the families 

 of all persons, and the Committee hope that henceforward a larger 

 amount of subscriptions will be made available. The allowance 

 granted by Government is by no means sufficient to defray current 

 expenses, and owing to the small number of Members, the gratuitous 

 distribution of European vegetable, and Flower-seeds is not car- 

 ried out on so liberal a scale, or to as many persons, as is desirable. 



In conclusion, the Committee desire to submit copies of the re- 

 gulations of the Society as amended at a recent meeting of the 

 Managing Committee. The objects of their revision were the 

 simplification of complicated and unnecessary regulations and the 

 substitution of brief and clear rules for those formerly in force, and 

 objectionable in length and want of perspicuity. The entrance 

 fee is proposed to be abolished ; the number of the Committee re- 

 mains the same, but the offices of President and Vice-President are 

 merged into the General Committee, who will from their own body 

 select their own Chairman. 



The present President and Vice-Presidents will join the Com- 

 mittee, and the three additional Members thus added will be gra- 

 dually absorbed on the occurrence of vacancies. 



The Patron and Vice-Patrons, who hold office, to a great degree, 

 ex-officio, are requested to continue in their present position. 



The Quarterly Meetings formerly ordered to be held are abolish - 

 ed, and the laws regarding exhibitions are incorporated in the laws 

 of the Society. 



