ANNUAL REPORTS. 
163 
from other sources. The total Receipts, though more than 
those of last year, are, however, less than the Expenditure by 
|541.74, and were it not for a large Balance to Credit from last 
year, there would have been a serious deficit at the end of the 
year. There is, however .still a Balance to Credit of $341.74 to 
be carried forward, and there is every reason to believe that the 
Institute will be able to pay its way during next year if judiciously 
managed. As is shown above, the chief source of Revenue is the 
Government subsidy, and without this the Institute cannot be 
carried on. 
The next direct Revenue to the Institute is the subscrip- 
tions of Members. 
At the commencement of the last subscription year, 24th 
March, 1896, in addition to the members who were also members 
of the Field Naturalists’ Club, whose subscription go to that 
Club, there were 27 members paying $5 per annum and 3 
Associates of 10/- per annum. Since that date seven of these 
members have resigned or left the Colony. A second instalment 
of the debt to the Government was paid on 2nd J anuary, 1896, 
leaving a Balance of .£400 to be paid. In January, 1897, this 
was further reduced by £50, which makes the existing balance 
only £350. At the present rate of payment the Institute will be 
free from debt in seven years, but if it could obtain a larger sup- 
port from the public, there is no reason why this debt could not 
be paid off within a shorter time. 
Both the Revenue and Expenditure of this year are larger 
than those of 1895. This is owing to increased activity on the part 
of the Institute. Of the Expenditure a large proportion has 
been spent on the public, the loss on Exhibitions alone being 
$284.95, of which $235.70 was given away in prizes. 
Some 2,600 people visited the Institute during the year. 
This number does not include those who visited the Exhibitions. 
It is to be hoped that the public will not, in the year of 
Her Gracious Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, allow the Institute, the 
only Memorial of Her late Jubilee, which exists in the Colony, 
to be closed for the want of Funds. 
The Accounts have been duly audited. 
THOMAS I. POTTER, 
Ron. Secretary. 
Victoria Museum, 23rd March, 1897. 
