10 
The organization of the Museum is based upon the following 
instructions contained in the “ Report of Committees of Inquiry 
“ into Public Offices,” 1854. 
“ With regard to the important subject of the curatorship of 
“ the Museum, we find that the professors are generally of 
“ opinion that no single person could be found who would bo 
“ competent to undertake the detailed arrangement of the whole, 
“ and that each professor ought to have the special care of that 
“ part which relates to his own department. We therefore con- 
“ sider that the registrar of the College should be charged with 
“ such general superintendence as he can give to the whole 
“ collection, and that the more particular care and arrangement 
“ of the several departments should be left to the professors, 
“ subject to the supervision of the director.” 
In accordance with the above directions, the several depart- 
ments of the Museum are placed under the following officers : — 
The collection of Fossil Specimens. — Professor Huxley. 
Assistant, - fKoBT, Etheridge. 
[ George Sharman. 
The collection of Rock Specimens . — Professor Ramsay. 
The collection of Metallurgical \ p p 
Specimens - - - J 
The Collection of Minercdogiccd\ w ^ (mm w> g MYTH . 
Specimens - - - J 
General Curator - Trenham Reeks. 
The Mining Record Office. 
Considerable loss of capital has frequently resulted from 
attempts to mine in localities, where a little knowledge of what 
had been previously done would have shown there was small 
prospect of success. Through ignorance of the existence or 
exact extent of old and deserted mine workings, great danger 
to the miner is not uncommonly incurred, and human life has 
been frequently sacrificed. The preservation of Mining Records 
has for one of its object the prevention of such loss of life and of 
property. 
A large collection of plans and sections of mines, and important 
statistical details, are deposited in this Office, under the super- 
intendence of the Keeper of the Mining Records. They are made 
available for the instruction of students, and may be consulted 
