244 
Sun Fire Office, and in the Royal Exchange Assurance, and 
claims for £245 9s. 3d. have been paid since the accounts 
for 1885-6 were closed. The safety of the Society’s property, 
much of which could never have been replaced, must be 
considered to be largely due to the prevision of a former 
council, which declined, some years ago, to allow any windows 
to be opened out upon the area to the rear of the old building ; 
as during the course of the recent fire the wind carried the 
flames directly across it ; even as it was, the protection of 
the unbroken wall of the burning warehouse was only just 
sufficient to save the library and other property from 
destruction. This will explain the interpolation of a new 
account {Fire Account) into the Treasurer’s statement this 
year, showing expenditure to the amount of £8 lOs. 6d. 
Durino; the time that the fire was raffiaff, much valuable 
assistance was rendered by Mr. Mark Stirrup and Mr, J. B. 
Pettigrew, together with Mr. Brothers the curator, and 
Mr. W. Roscoe the housekeeper, in removing microscopes, 
etc., from the premises. The Council would also acknowledge 
the judicious services and advice given by the Fire Brigade, 
under Mr. Superintendent Tozer, and for the loan of 
waterproof sheets which saved the contents of the building 
from damage from the hose- water and from rain through 
the broken roof 
The number of ordinary members on the roll of the 
Society on the 1st April, 1885, was 140, and 8 new 
members have been elected. The losses have been : resig- 
nations, 4; deaths, 4. 
The deceased members are Dr. Jas. Whitehead, F.R.C.S. ; 
Mr. Henry Charlewood, Mr. J ames Higgin, and Mr. J oseph 
Sidebotham, F.R.A.S. 
The late Mr. J oseph Sidebotham was the son of a manu- 
facturer residing in the neighbourhood of Hyde, but who 
died at a comparative^ early age. Whilst a boy Mr. Side- 
botham displayed some of the taste for Natural History 
