Vlll 
REPORT OF THE 
With regard to these speeial items it may be remarked— 
(1) The Drainage.—The alterations were ordered by the 
local sanitary authorities, and the Society had no option in 
the matter. 
(2) A good many keys have been lost by members during 
the last few years, and it is known that in several cases the 
keys thus lost have passed into the hands of unauthorized 
persons. In order, therefore, to better secure the due privacy 
and safe custody of the premises, the Council resolved to 
change the locks and keys of the Gardens. A circular was 
sent out with the announcement of this change, requesting 
members to keep the new keys in safe custody, or to entrust 
them to none hut responsible members of their households. 
The Council desire to call special attention to this request 
and to beg that it may be carefully observed. The new keys 
are much more portable than the old ones, and are small 
enough to be carried on a bunch with others. 
(3) The Meteorological Office formerly paid an annual 
gratuity to the observer who forwarded daily by telegraph 
the repoits of the weather which appeared in the newspapers. 
It seems that the meteorological office receives a fixed annual 
grant from Parliament, the details of the disposal of which 
are left in the hands of the officials. Owing to certain clerks 
having retired on pensions, the amount available for general 
current expenses is diminished, and the daily telegraphic 
reports from certain stations are discontinued. The depart¬ 
ment is anxious to have the same observations taken as 
formerly and the results supplied to it at intervals, but at the 
expense of local people. Unfortunately the subject is not 
sufficiently political to make a parliamentary question likely 
to be of use. 
(4) The Anemometer, or self-recording wind gauge, is of a 
new and improved pattern, and registers on a band of paper 
from moment to moment, the force of the wind. Those 
interested will be able on any windy day to see each gust 
of wind recording itself. The Council is much indebted to 
G. Crawhall, Esq., for the interest he has taken in the matter 
and for his liberality and energy in obtaining subscriptions. 
